The Rivers State House of Assembly on Friday formally called on the Chief Judge of the state to constitute a panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct levelled against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.
The decision followed a unanimous vote by lawmakers, who declared their resolve to press ahead with the impeachment process despite ongoing tensions surrounding the political crisis in the oil-rich state.
Earlier in the day, members of the Assembly addressed a live press conference in Port Harcourt, during which they accused Governor Fubara of allegedly resorting to blackmail as the crisis deepened.
Speaking on behalf of the lawmakers, Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol said the governor no longer enjoyed the confidence required to lead efforts aimed at resolving the situation.
According to the lawmakers, Fubara had violated provisions of the 1999 Constitution, leaving the Assembly with no alternative but to exercise its legislative authority to remove him from office. They further alleged that both the governor and his deputy had engaged in acts of intimidation directed at the parliament.
Despite their grievances, the legislators expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for intervening in the crisis, acknowledging his efforts to calm tensions in the state. They also urged the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, to reconvene the Assembly to ensure legislative business continued.
In a notable development, four lawmakers who had previously addressed the media to advocate a political resolution to the standoff publicly withdrew their earlier positions and announced their backing for the continuation of the impeachment process.
Following the press conference, the lawmakers proceeded to the Assembly chambers, where a plenary session was convened to formally deliberate on the matter.
During the session, the House unanimously endorsed the investigation into the allegations of gross misconduct against the governor and his deputy.
Declaring the outcome of the vote, Speaker Martin Amaewhule said, “This voting clearly shows the decision of the House,” as he called on the Chief Judge of Rivers State to set up a panel of investigation in line with constitutional provisions.
What you should know
The move by the Rivers State House of Assembly signals a significant escalation in the political crisis between the legislature and the executive arm of government in the state.
Under the Nigerian Constitution, allegations of gross misconduct against a governor can trigger a formal impeachment process once an investigative panel is set up by the Chief Judge.
If sustained, the process could lead to the removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, with far-reaching political and administrative implications for Rivers State.
