BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – The political intervention by President Bola Tinubu has ultimately yielded results as the Rivers State House of Assembly on Thursday announced the indefinite suspension of its impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.
The resolution to halt the process was adopted during the Assembly’s resumed plenary in Port Harcourt, the state capital and may have finally brought respite to the executive arm of government in the oil rich state.
At its first sitting of 2026, the House had begun impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy over allegations of gross misconduct, including the demolition of the State Assembly complex and alleged spending without legislative approval, among other claims.
During the plenary presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, the Majority Leader Major Jack presented a notice citing seven allegations against Fubara under Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution. The accusations included demolishing the Assembly complex, engaging in extra-budgetary spending, withholding funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission and disobeying a Supreme Court ruling on the legislature’s financial autonomy.
Similarly, Deputy Leader Linda Stewart also submitted allegations against the Deputy Govrernor, accusing her of unconstitutional expenditure, obstructing the Assembly’s work, approving budgets through unauthorised channels and withholding salaries and allowances.
Despite the fact that 26 lawmakers signed the notice, which was to be forwarded to the governor, the impeachment push however ran into legal and political road blocks hurdles with the warring parties refusing to sheath the swords.
In the process, the Rivers State Chief Judge, Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi, declined the Assembly’s request to set up the constitutionally required seven-member investigative panel, citing a subsisting interim injunction issued by the Rivers State High Court.
The restraining order, granted on January 16, 2026, by Justice Florence A. Fiberesima, barred the Chief Judge, the Speaker and the Clerk from taking further steps on the impeachment, following suits filed by the governor and his deputy challenging the legality of the process.
Also joining the fray, Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) pointedly rejected the impeachment process, describing the move as “destabilising and unnecessary”, even as the exercise drew reactions from many political actors and groups across the country.
