Rivers State has been further thrown into a political crisis as Rivers State House of Assembly lawmakers move to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara for the second time since 2023.
The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, announced the move of the lawmakers to impeach Fubara during plenary on Thursday, January 8, 2025.
The Majority Leader, Major Jack, read out the notice of allegations and gross misconduct against Fubara.
It was gathered that twenty-six lawmakers supported the move to impeach Fubara by signing the notice.
Amaewhule said the notice will be served to Fubara in the next seven days.
The Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Linda Stewart, also read out the notice of allegations and gross misconduct against Oduh.
Relying on Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution, Jack reeled out seven points of alleged gross misconduct against Fubara.
Some of the accusations include the demolition of the Assembly Complex, extra budgetary spending, withholding funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and refusal to obey the Supreme Court on the financial autonomy of the house.
After Jack laid his notice before the Speaker, who said the notice would be served to the governor in seven days, the deputy leader, Linda Stewart, also brought forward a notice of gross misconduct against Odu.
According to the report, some of the allegations against Odu included reckless and unconstitutional spending of public funds, obstruction of the House of Assembly from performing its constitutional duties as outlined by the 1999 Constitution, and conniving to allow unauthorised persons to occupy offices without proper screening by the legitimate House of Assembly.
Other allegations were that she approached another group of people for budgetary approval instead of the legitimate Rivers State House of Assembly, seizure of salaries and allowances accruing to the RSHA and the Rivers State Assembly Service Commission.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that this is the second attempt by the Rivers State lawmakers to impeach Fubara.
In March 2024, a notice signed by 26 members of the Rivers Assembly at that time accused Fubara and Odu of gross misconduct after the governor fell out with the immediate governor of the state, Nyesom Wike.
Following escalating tensions in the oil-rich state, President Bola Tinubu intervened and declared a state of emergency.
The president suspended Fubara, his deputy, and the Rivers Assembly and said the development is “required by section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months,” Tinubu said.
He appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retired) as the administrator of the state.
Fubara returned after six months as governor following a reconciliatory move brokered between him, Wike, who is the FCT Minister, and the lawmakers.
Below is a brief timeline of the political crisis in Rivers State;
2023: Onset of the Crisis
- May 2023: Siminalayi Fubara, backed by Nyesom Wike, is elected Governor of Rivers State under the PDP banner.
- October 29, 2023: Suspected arsonists bomb a section of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex, heightening tensions on the eve of an impeachment move against Fubara.
- October 30, 2023: Pro-Wike lawmakers move to impeach Fubara.
- December 11–13, 2023: 27 pro-Wike lawmakers defect from PDP to APC. A court order allows a Fubara-backed four-member assembly to operate; its factional speaker declares the defectors’ seats vacant. Fubara presents the 2024 budget to the small faction.
- December 2023: President Bola Tinubu intervenes with an initial peace agreement, but implementation failed.
2024: Court Battles and Temporary Truces
- Early 2024: Assembly reconfirms pro-Wike commissioners; factional speaker resigns and withdraws suits.
- August–September 2024: Local government elections proceed amid disputes; courts order use of 2023 voter register.
2025: Escalation to Emergency Rule
- March 2025: Crisis peaks; President Tinubu declares a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Fubara and appointing an administrator (Ibok-Ete Ibas).
- May–June 2025: National Assembly approves a budget for the state during emergency rule. Tinubu brokers a second peace deal in June, reinstating Fubara with conditions (reportedly including no second-term bid for Fubara in 2027).
- September 18, 2025: Fragile truce brokered by Tinubu aims to end tensions, but underlying issues persist.
- Late 2025: Disputes over supplementary budgets and unauthorized expenditures resurface; pro-Wike assembly accuses Fubara of fiscal irregularities.
Late 2025–Early 2026
- December 9, 2025: Governor Fubara defects from PDP to APC, seen as a realignment for 2027 re-election support.
- December 2025: Standoff over supplementary budget; Fubara rejects proposals, citing sufficient funds. Wike convenes allies to push back.
- Late December 2025: Wike begins “thank you/homecoming” visits to Rivers LGAs (e.g., Khana, Ahoada), mobilizing support and hinting at correcting “2023 mistakes” in 2027.
- December 27–30, 2025: Wike announces political activities will resume in January 2026; warns against repeating past errors, indirectly targeting Fubara’s re-election.
- January 1–2, 2026: Budget disputes intensify; state executive approves N1.854 trillion 2026 budget proposal without full assembly input, raising illegality concerns.
- January 3, 2026: During Okrika’s visit, Wike blasts Fubara, saying the “same barking dog” (his camp) made him governor. Rivers Ijaw People’s Congress abandons Fubara, pledges loyalty to Wike.
- January 4–5, 2026: Wike vows not to be “politically buried” if Fubara wins a second term; insists on honoring peace agreements; accuses Fubara of reneging twice.
- January 6, 2026: Wike names Ribadu and Odili as peace deal witnesses; accuses advisors of misleading Fubara. APC governors reportedly back Fubara’s 2027 bid, escalating intra-party tensions; APC officials trade barbs with Wike.
