BREAKING: Rivers Assembly begins impeachment process against Gov Fubara

The political crisis in Rivers State deepened on Thursday as the Rivers State House of Assembly formally commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The Assembly, led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, made a surprise reversal of its earlier plan to resume plenary on January 26, opting instead to reconvene on Thursday.

The development was conveyed through an internal memo circulated to lawmakers and signed by the Clerk of the House, Emeka Amadi.

The memo, dated January 5, stated that the decision to reconvene was taken with the approval of the Speaker and in accordance with Order 4, Rule 3 of the Standing Orders of the Rivers State House of Assembly (1999).

“By the leave of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule DSSRS, you are hereby informed that the House will reconvene for plenary on Thursday, 8th January 2026, at 10:00am,” the memo read.

Lawmakers were also directed to treat the notice with urgency and ensure their attendance.

At the resumed sitting, presided over by Amaewhule, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, formally read out a notice of allegations and gross misconduct levelled against Governor Fubara.

According to the Assembly, 26 lawmakers signed the notice, which was presented in line with provisions of the Nigerian Constitution governing impeachment proceedings.

Speaker Amaewhule announced that the notice of allegations would be served on the governor within the next seven days, in line with constitutional requirements.

In a related development, the Deputy Majority Leader, Linda Stewart, also presented a notice of allegations and gross misconduct against the Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, signalling the expansion of the impeachment process to include the second-highest office in the state.

The latest move marks a significant escalation in the ongoing political standoff between the executive and the legislature in Rivers State.