Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara appoints Dr Dagogo Wokoma as SSG and Barrister Sunny Ewule as Chief of Staff with immediate effect.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has dismissed claims that the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara are being driven by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The Assembly’s spokesperson, Enemi George, made the clarification on Thursday, during an interview on a National TV Program, insisting that lawmakers are acting strictly in line with constitutional provisions.
According to George, attributing the impeachment move to any political figure undermines the independence of the legislature and misrepresents its constitutional role.
“The FCT minister is a politician. If we begin to mix politics and constitutional matters, we will begin to cause trouble,” he said.
He affirmed that while he is personally aligned politically with the FCT minister, it would be “insulting” to reduce the actions of a constitutionally recognised institution to the influence of an individual.
Power Struggle in Rivers Politics
Rivers State has witnessed prolonged political tension following the fallout between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, a rift that has repeatedly spilled into the legislative arena.
The strained relationship has fuelled speculation that the House of Assembly is acting as a proxy in the ongoing power struggle. However, the lawmakers insist the impeachment process is based solely on alleged constitutional breaches and not political loyalty.
This is the second impeachment attempt against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, in less than a year. A similar move in March 2025 collapsed amid heightened political tension and public backlash.
Assembly Defends Impeachment Process
George maintained that the impeachment proceedings are not politically motivated, stressing that the governor is accused of violating several constitutional provisions.
He also dismissed allegations of budget padding and claims that legislative duties were stalled, describing them as unfounded and misleading.
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Details of the Impeachment Proceedings
During plenary on Thursday, presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, formally read a notice of allegations against Governor Fubara in line with Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution.
The notice listed seven allegations of gross misconduct, including:
- The demolition of the House of Assembly complex
- Extra-budgetary spending
- Withholding funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission
- Alleged disobedience of a Supreme Court ruling on legislative financial autonomy
A total of 26 lawmakers endorsed the notice, while the Speaker said the governor would be formally notified within the constitutionally prescribed timeframe.
In a related development, the Deputy Leader, Linda Stewart, presented a separate notice of gross misconduct against Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, citing allegations of reckless spending, obstruction of legislative activities, and approval of budgets outside the recognised Assembly.
APC Raises Alarm Over Political Stability
Reacting to the development, the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) rejected the impeachment process, describing it as “destabilising and unnecessary.”
In a statement signed by the party’s spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju, the APC acknowledged the constitutional independence of the legislature but warned that the impeachment could plunge the state into political turmoil.
The party also dismissed claims that the impeachment was linked to budgetary disputes, recalling that a ₦1.485 trillion budget was approved during the emergency rule period and is expected to run until August 2026.
The APC urged the Assembly to halt the process, warning that continued political instability could stall development and damage public confidence in governance.
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