Port Harcourt, Rivers State - The political atmosphere in Rivers State has reached a fever pitch as the State House of Assembly has formally commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The lawmakers have laid out a series of allegations, with the governor's persistent failure to present the state's annual budget taking center stage as a primary act of gross misconduct.
Impeachment Notice Served Over Constitutional Breaches
During a tense plenary session on Thursday, January 8, 2026, Speaker Martin Amaewhule announced the move, revealing that impeachment notices had been signed by 26 members of the House. The notices, which also target Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, are to be formally served within a seven-day period. The core of the allegations hinges on what the Assembly describes as severe breaches of constitutional duties and financial irregularities.
Speaker Amaewhule did not mince words, describing Governor Fubara's tenure as a "mistake" and labeling both the governor and his deputy as a "threat to democracy." He expressed grave concern over the governor's alleged boastful disregard for the legislative arm of government.
The Budget Refusal: A Central Pillar of the Case
The most prominent charge leveled against Governor Fubara is his consistent refusal to present an appropriation bill (budget) to the Rivers State House of Assembly for approval, as required by law. Amaewhule stated that this act alone constitutes a major part of the gross misconduct allegations.
Furthermore, the Speaker made a startling accusation that the governor was involved in the conversion of state funds into foreign currency (dollars). This money, he alleged, was used to pay individuals in Abuja to lobby President Bola Tinubu to interfere and prevent the Assembly from summoning Fubara to present the 2026 budget.
"The particulars of gross misconduct have a lot to do with refusal to present a budget and spending outside the appropriation law," Amaewhule declared, emphasizing that the impeachment move is primarily based on the budget refusal.
Accusations of Disrespect and Presidential Intervention
The rift between the executive and the legislature was further highlighted by the Speaker's account of the governor's alleged disparaging remarks. Amaewhule claimed that Fubara has repeatedly referred to the 10th Rivers State Assembly as a 'toothless bulldog', implying it lacks the power to hold him accountable.
He also accused the governor of boasting about seeking presidential intervention to restrain the Assembly from performing its constitutional duties. "And the governor has been boasting that he will always go and meet the president for him to call us and give us instruction," Amaewhule told the assembly.
The Speaker revealed that several high-level meetings had previously been held involving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in attempts to resolve the lingering political crisis in the state, but to no avail.
Calls for Resistance and Counter-Allegations
In reaction to the impeachment proceedings, opposition figure Abdul-Aziz Abubakar Na'ibi has publicly urged Governor Fubara to leverage state resources to counter the threat. Na'ibi called for mobilizing grassroots support and initiating anti-corruption investigations that would involve the lawmakers and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
The situation remains fluid and tense, with the seven-day service period for the impeachment notice marking a critical countdown for Governor Siminalayi Fubara's administration in the oil-rich state. The move sets the stage for a major constitutional and political showdown in Rivers State.
