By Emmanuel Kwada
The Rivers State House of Assembly has taken a significant step toward the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, with a formal notice of allegations of gross misconduct served to the deputy governor.
The notice, dated March 14, 2025, cites Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), 1999, as the legal basis for the proceedings, signaling a deepening political crisis in the oil-rich state.
The notice, addressed to the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and signed by members of the Assembly, accuses Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu of acts of gross misconduct in the performance of her duties.
Fubara, a protégé of former Governor Nyesom Wike, has reportedly clashed with his predecessor, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory
While specific details of the alleged misconduct were not outlined in the document, the move is widely seen as part of a broader effort to also target Governor Fubara, whose administration has faced mounting tensions with the state legislature in recent months.
The impeachment notice comes amid a backdrop of escalating political friction in Rivers State, which has been a hotbed of political maneuvering since Governor Fubara assumed office in May 2023. Fubara, a protégé of former Governor Nyesom Wike, has reportedly clashed with his predecessor, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The rift between Fubara and Wike has fueled divisions within the state’s political class, with the state Assembly becoming a battleground for their competing interests.
In late 2023, a similar impeachment threat against Fubara was thwarted after President Bola Tinubu intervened to broker peace between the governor and Wike’s loyalists in the Assembly.
However, the fragile truce appears to have collapsed, with the latest move indicating that the pro-Wike faction in the Assembly is determined to challenge Fubara’s leadership.
Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution provides a framework for the impeachment of a governor or deputy governor for gross misconduct, which is defined as a grave violation of the constitution or other law
The inclusion of Deputy Governor Odu in the impeachment proceedings suggests a strategic effort to weaken Fubara’s administration by targeting his key ally.
Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution provides a framework for the impeachment of a governor or deputy governor for gross misconduct, which is defined as a grave violation of the constitution or other laws.
The process requires the support of at least two-thirds of the members of the state Assembly to pass a motion of impeachment.
Following the issuance of the notice, the Assembly is expected to constitute a panel to investigate the allegations against Prof. Odu. If the panel finds her guilty, the Assembly could proceed with a vote to remove her from office.
