Rivers Assembly Denies Wike’s Involvement in Fubara Impeachment Move, Says Action Is Constitutionally Driven

The Rivers State House of Assembly has rejected claims that its renewed impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara are being orchestrated by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The Assembly insisted that its actions are grounded in constitutional responsibility rather than political interference.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, the Assembly’s spokesperson, Enemi George, dismissed suggestions that Wike—Fubara’s predecessor and long-time political rival—had influenced the move. He cautioned against conflating personal political affiliations with legislative duties.

“This is pouring oil into water, and those two don’t mix unless boiled,” George said. “The FCT minister is a politician. If we begin to mix politics and constitutional matters, we will begin to cause trouble. Personally, I am politically aligned with the FCT minister, but it is insulting to reduce the activities of an institution created by the Constitution to just politics or an individual.”

He stressed that the impeachment move was not politically motivated but based on alleged breaches of constitutional provisions by the governor.

The Assembly earlier on Thursday commenced formal impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu. During plenary presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, Majority Leader Major Jack read a notice of allegations against the governor in line with Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution.

The notice listed seven allegations, including the demolition of the Assembly complex, extra-budgetary spending, withholding funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and alleged disobedience of a Supreme Court ruling on legislative financial autonomy. Twenty-six lawmakers endorsed the notice, after which Amaewhule confirmed that the governor would be notified within the constitutionally required timeframe.

In a parallel development, Deputy Leader Linda Stewart laid a notice of gross misconduct against Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu. Her alleged offences include reckless spending, interference in legislative functions, and approving budgets outside the recognised Assembly.

This marks the second impeachment attempt against Fubara and Odu in less than a year, following an earlier move in March 2025 that arose from escalating tensions between the governor and Wike.

The political drama has drawn reactions from across the state. The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) condemned the impeachment process, labelling it “destabilising and unnecessary.”

In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju, the APC acknowledged the legislature’s constitutional independence but urged caution to avoid plunging the state into further crisis. The party also dismissed claims that the standoff was related to budgetary disputes, noting that the ₦1.485 trillion emergency-rule budget approved by the National Assembly remains valid until August 2026.

The APC urged the lawmakers to halt the process, warning that it could tarnish the party’s image and stall development in Rivers State.