Rivers assembly denied halting impeachment move against Fubara

There were reports earlier on Friday from some news websites and newspapers suggesting that the assembly had withdrawn the impeachment move against Governor Fubara and his Deputy, Ngọzi Odu.

The Rivers House of Assembly has refuted reports that it has discontinued the impeachment move against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngọzi Odu.

The spokesperson of the assembly, Enemi George, disclosed this in a statement on Friday night.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the assembly began impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his Deputy, Mrs Odu, a professor, on Thursday, over alleged gross misconduct.

There were reports earlier on Friday from some news websites and newspapers suggesting that the assembly had withdrawn the impeachment move and apologised to President Bola Tinubu over the plot.

‘Deliberate misinformation’

Mr George, who represents Asari‑Toru II Constituency in the state assembly, described the speculations as “deliberate misinformation and false narratives.”

“Some are circulating false narratives to cause disaffection between the House and well-meaning Nigerians.

“Therefore, with the leave of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule. I call on all and sundry to disregard their antics, as their actions have already failed,” he said, insisting that the impeachment move was “fully on course.”

“We remain committed to our constitutional duties and would not be dissuaded by cheap blackmail or threats from those who do not mean well for our country’s nascent democracy.”

The assembly spokesperson noted that the notices of the alleged misconduct had been served on Governor Fubara and his Deputy, Mrs Odu.

“As we all know, it is the House of Assembly that is empowered by the Constitution to stand by the people and stop infractions on the Constitution by the governor, deputy governor, or any other officer of the Rivers State Government. So, we remain duty-bound in this regard,” he maintained.

Background

This is the third attempt by the Rivers assembly to impeach Mr Fubara since he became the governor of the state in 2023, amid a feud between him and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

The assembly first initiated an impeachment proceeding against Mr Fubara in October 2023 over allegations of gross misconduct.

However, the impeachment process was dropped shortly after President Tinubu intervened in the political rift between Messrs Fubara and Wike at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

In December of that year, the lawmaker officially withdrew the impeachment notice against Governor Fubara following a peace deal signed by Messrs Fubara and Wike.

The peace deal later broke down, with the Rivers Assembly stripping Governor Fubara of the power to appoint caretaker committees for local government councils.

In March 2025, the assembly, for the second time, began an impeachment process against Governor Fubara and his Deputy, Mrs Odu, after serving a notice of alleged misconduct against them.

While the process was ongoing, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers on 18 March 2025 and suspended all elected officials in the state, including the governor, for six months.

Mr Fubara only returned to the office in September of that year after the president declared an end to the emergency rule following a second peace deal brokered in June between Messrs Fubara and Wike alongside their supporters.

The second peace deal recently broke down with Mr Wike accusing the governor of reneging on the terms of the latest agreement in the peace deal brokered by the president.

Mr Fubara recently defected from the PDP to the APC, apparently in the hope that he can receive political protection from the ruling party.