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The Rivers State House of Assembly has rejected calls for a political settlement, insisting it will pursue the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Oduh.
The Assembly’s spokesperson, Enemi George, said the ongoing impeachment proceedings were driven by constitutional concerns.
Speaking on Channels Television on Thursday, he argued that resorting to political compromises would undermine the integrity of the legislature, stressing that the matter before the House was strictly legal.
George dismissed claims that the impeachment process was intended to pressure the governor, noting that past political interventions had failed to resolve the crisis.
“Very sincerely, I doubt that because we’ve had one too many political solutions… It demeans and 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 accused Fubara of repeated misconduct, describing the governor as a recidivist who allegedly continued to violate the law despite previous interventions and forgiveness.
The lawmaker cited alleged cases of mismanagement of public funds, including claims that the governor appointed relatives to public positions without due process or proper screening.
George also addressed the controversy surrounding a N100,000 “Christmas gift” credited to lawmakers’ bank accounts on December 30, 2025, allegedly at the governor’s directive.
He said the Assembly rejected the funds because there was no constitutional provision backing such payments, adding that lawmakers were unwilling to risk legal consequences.
According to him, the funds belonged to the people of Rivers State, not to any individual, because public resources must be handled transparently and with accountability.
On calls for intervention by party leaders, George said such efforts could not override the Assembly’s constitutional responsibilities. He referenced earlier mediation attempts by President Bola Tinubu, noting that previous agreements were undermined.
He argued that repeated breaches of the law could not be excused by continuous appeals for presidential intervention.
“The first time the president intervened, he was insulted. They said it was a political solution that was not binding. The second time, the president went through hell to assemble stakeholders, to broker this peace, and then somebody goes back and reneges.
“You can’t keep breaking the law and expecting the president to come to your rescue.”
Meanwhile, the Rivers State House of Assembly has formally commenced impeachment proceedings against Fubara and Oduh.
During a plenary session presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, read a notice of allegations of gross misconduct reportedly signed by 26 lawmakers, citing violations of the Nigerian Constitution.
Amaewhule said the notice would be served on the governor within seven days.
This marks the second attempt by the Assembly to remove Fubara and his deputy, following a similar move in March 2025. That earlier effort heightened political tension in the state and prompted President Tinubu to intervene, who brokered a reconciliation among Fubara, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, and Assembly members, allowing the governor to resume office after six months.
