The Rivers house of assembly says no political solution will halt the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state, and Ngozi Odu, his deputy.
The assembly had on Thursday commenced impeachment proceedings against Fubara and Odu over allegations of “gross misconduct”.
Martins Amaewhule, speaker of the assembly, had accused the governor and his deputy of posing a threat to democracy in the state.
Amaewhule also faulted the governor for “deliberately refusing” to present the state budget in line with constitutional provisions.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, Enemi George, spokesperson of the assembly, said lawmakers are determined to see the process through.
George dismissed claims that the impeachment was politically motivated, insisting that the assembly is acting strictly within the confines of the law.
“Very sincerely, I doubt that because we’ve had one too many political solutions… it demeans, diminishes the institution of the Rivers house of assembly if you say that everything that we do is because of politics. Right now, what we’re talking about is the law,” he said.
George described Fubara as a “recidivist”, arguing that the governor repeatedly violated the law despite previous interventions.
“A recidivist is somebody who commits the same crime over and over again… so what’s the need for a political solution?” he asked.
He alleged that the governor mismanaged public funds and appointed relatives to positions without due process.
George also addressed the rejection of a N100,000 “Christmas gift” allegedly credited to lawmakers’ accounts on December 30, 2025.
“Within that principle, there is no constitutional provision for that… we rejected it because I don’t want to go to prison,” he said.
“These funds do not belong to my father, mother, or sister; they belong to the people of Rivers state,” George added.
He said previous reconciliation efforts led by President Bola Tinubu failed because agreements were breached.
“You can’t keep breaking the law and expecting the president to come to your rescue,” George said.
The assembly had earlier issued a notice of allegations signed by 26 lawmakers and read during plenary by Major Jack, majority leader.
Amaewhule said the notice would be formally served on the governor within seven days.
The development marks the third attempt by the assembly to remove Fubara and his deputy, following a failed impeachment move in March 2025.
At the height of the crisis, rising tensions in the state led to the intervention of Tinubu, who mediated talks between Fubara, Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and the lawmakers, paving the way for the governor’s return after six months.
