Rivers Lawmakers Rule Out Political Settlement Over Fubara Crisis

Share this

…says the Rivers state governor had mismanaged public funds on several occasions,

RIVERS, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | The Rivers State House of Assembly has reiterated its resolve to pursue the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Oduh, rejecting calls for a political settlement.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, the Assembly’s spokesperson, Enemi George, dismissed suggestions that the impeachment process was politically motivated or intended to pressure the governor.

“I sincerely doubt that,” George said. “We have had far too many political solutions. It diminishes the integrity of the Rivers State House of Assembly when everything we do is reduced to politics. What we are dealing with now is the law.”

Responding to allegations of repeated misconduct, George described Governor Fubara as a recidivist, arguing that previous interventions and concessions had failed to bring lasting change.

“A recidivist is someone who commits the same offence repeatedly. He is punished or forgiven, and then returns to commit the same offence again. So what is the justification for another political solution?” he asked.

George alleged that the Rivers state governor had mismanaged public funds on several occasions, including the appointment of family members to public offices without proper legislative screening.

He also addressed controversies surrounding the handling of public funds, referencing the Assembly’s decision on December 30, 2025, to reject a N100,000 “Christmas gift” credited to lawmakers’ bank accounts at the governor’s directive.

“There is no constitutional provision for such payments,” he said. “We did not reject the money because it was small. We rejected it because I do not want to go to prison.

“These funds do not belong to my family. They belong to the people of Rivers State, in every community, who will ultimately pay for it.”

The Assembly spokesperson further maintained that interventions by political leaders or party stakeholders could not override the legislature’s constitutional responsibility.

“The first time the president intervened, he was insulted and the outcome was dismissed as a political solution that was not binding. The second time, Mr President went through enormous effort to bring stakeholders together and broker peace, only for agreements to be violated,” George said.

“You cannot continue to break the law and expect the president to rescue you each time,” he added, referring to previous mediation efforts by President Bola Tinubu.

Meanwhile, iNews Times reported that the Rivers State House of Assembly had formally commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and Deputy Governor Oduh.

During a plenary session presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, read out a notice detailing allegations of gross misconduct against the governor. The notice, signed by 26 lawmakers, cited alleged breaches of the Nigerian Constitution.

Amaewhule disclosed that the notice would be officially served on the governor within seven days.

This marks the second attempt by the Assembly to impeach Fubara and his deputy, following a similar move in March 2025.

At the time, rising political tensions prompted President Tinubu to intervene, leading to a reconciliation involving Fubara, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and members of the Assembly, which ultimately paved the way for the governor’s return after six months.