The Rivers State House of Assembly has denied claims that the ongoing impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara is influenced by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the Assembly spokesperson, Enemi George, stressed that lawmakers are acting strictly within constitutional provisions and not under the direction of any political figure.
Responding to suggestions of Wike’s involvement, George said mixing politics with constitutional duties would be dangerous. He described claims linking the impeachment to an individual as unfair and demeaning to the legislature, adding:
“This is pouring oil into water, and those two don’t mix unless boiled. The FCT minister is a politician. If we begin to mix politics and constitutional matters, we will begin to cause trouble.”
George clarified that while he is personally aligned with Wike, it is insulting to reduce the actions of a constitutionally created institution to the influence of a single individual.
He also emphasized that the impeachment process is not politically motivated, asserting that the governor allegedly breached several constitutional provisions, and dismissed claims of budget padding or stalled legislative duties as unfounded.
Impeachment Proceedings
During plenary presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, read a notice of allegations against the governor under Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution, citing gross misconduct. The allegations include:
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Demolition of the Assembly complex
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Extra-budgetary expenditure
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Withholding of funds for the Assembly Service Commission
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Alleged disobedience of a Supreme Court ruling on legislative financial autonomy
The notice was endorsed by 26 lawmakers, and Amaewhule confirmed that the Assembly would formally notify the governor within the constitutionally stipulated timeframe.
In a parallel move, the Deputy Leader, Linda Stewart, presented a notice of gross misconduct against Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, citing reckless spending, obstruction of legislative activities, and approval of budgets outside the recognised Assembly.
This marks the second impeachment attempt against Fubara and Odu in under a year, following a similar attempt in March 2025 amid political tensions between the governor and his predecessor, Wike.
APC Reacts
The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) rejected the impeachment proceedings, describing them as “destabilising and unnecessary.” In a statement, party spokesperson Darlington Nwauju acknowledged the legislature’s constitutional independence but warned against actions that could plunge the state into political turmoil.
The APC also dismissed claims that the impeachment is linked to budget issues, noting that a ₦1.485 trillion budget approved during the emergency rule period is expected to run until August 2026.
The party urged the Assembly to discontinue the process, cautioning that it could damage the APC’s image and stall development in Rivers State.
