posted 17th March 2025
27 Wike-Led Assembly Members Launch Impeachment Proceedings Against Governor Siminalayi Fubara
Port Harcourt, 17 March 2025 – Political tensions in Rivers State have reached a boiling point as 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, aligned with former Governor Nyesom Wike, have initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara. They accuse him of gross misconduct and repeated breaches of the Nigerian Constitution. The charges, outlined in a detailed document presented to the House, depict a governor allegedly flouting the rule of law, obstructing the legislature, and governing recklessly.
The impeachment notice, led by Speaker Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, highlights five key accusations of gross misconduct, backed by specific examples of alleged constitutional violations. This move intensifies a long-running power struggle between Fubara and the Wike faction, which has frequently destabilised the state.
The Assembly claims Fubara has recklessly spent public funds in breach of Sections 120, 121, and 122 of the 1999 Constitution, which require strict oversight of state finances. They argue this points to widespread financial mismanagement. More dramatically, they allege he personally ordered and oversaw the demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex on 13 December 2023, defying an ex parte order from the Federal High Court (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2013) issued on 30 November 2023. That order had demanded the Assembly’s preservation until a legal decision was reached.
Judges have since condemned the demolition. On 22 January 2024, Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court called it a “devious” attempt to stop legislative sittings. The Supreme Court, in a ruling on 28 February 2025 (Suit No. SC/CV/1174/2024), labelled it a “gross violation” of court orders, noting Fubara had arranged a “sham sitting” of four Assembly members, led by Rt. Hon. Ehie Ogerenye Edison, outside the complex.
The lawmakers further accuse Fubara of bypassing constitutional rules by appointing officials without screening and confirmation from the legitimate House under Amaewhule’s leadership. Examples include announcing Mr. Dagogo Iboroma as Attorney-General without Assembly approval, swearing in 19 individuals as Commissioners between May and October 2024—such as Prince Charles O. Beke and Emmanuel Frank-Fubara—without legislative vetting, and appointing members to bodies like the Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement and the Local Government Service Commission, again ignoring the Assembly.
The Assembly also alleges Fubara has withheld salaries, allowances, and operational funds owed to its members and staff since April 2024, including those of Amaewhule and Clerk Mr. Emeka Amadi. They say this breaches Section 121(3) of the Constitution and a Federal High Court injunction, aiming to paralyse the House’s work.
In their conclusion, the lawmakers assert Fubara has shown he is unprepared to govern Rivers State in line with the Constitution and his oath of office. They point to the Supreme Court’s February 2025 ruling, which warned that “political disagreements cannot justify these attacks and contempt for the rule of law,” adding that Fubara’s actions risk “destroying the government” over fears of impeachment.
This clash is the latest in a bitter feud between Fubara and Wike, his predecessor and political rival. The 27 Wike-aligned Assembly members have repeatedly confronted Fubara since he took office, with disputes over legislative authority and governance spilling into the courts. The demolition of the Assembly complex and efforts to work through a rival faction have only worsened the crisis.
As of today, the impeachment process is just beginning and requires a two-thirds majority of the 32-member House to succeed—a mark the Wike faction believes it can hit with its 27 members. Fubara’s supporters are likely to fight back hard, possibly challenging the proceedings’ legitimacy in court.
For Rivers State residents, this standoff brings more uncertainty. As local Chika Okoro put it, “We just want peace and progress, not this endless battling.” Whether the impeachment succeeds or falters, its impact will ripple through the state—and test Nigeria’s democratic framework—well beyond March 2025.
