The Rivers State House of Assembly on Thursday declared that it would not receive the 2026 budget from Governor Siminalayi Fubara, as lawmakers formally commenced impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, over alleged gross misconduct.
The Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, accused the governor of refusing to present the state’s appropriation bill and excluding lawmakers from budgetary processes, actions it said amount to impeachable offences under the Constitution.
The impeachment process was initiated through a motion moved by the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol, and seconded by Silvernus Nwankwo. The Majority Leader, Major Jack, subsequently read a notice of allegations against the governor, citing Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution.
According to the notice, the allegations include the demolition of the Assembly complex, alleged extra-budgetary spending, withholding of funds meant for the Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission, and failure to comply with Supreme Court judgments on the financial autonomy of the legislature.
A separate notice of alleged gross misconduct was also presented against the deputy governor by the Deputy Leader, Linda Stewart. The accusations include unconstitutional spending, obstruction of legislative duties, alleged approval of budgets outside the Assembly, and seizure of salaries and allowances of lawmakers and the Assembly Service Commission.
Amaewhule said the allegations were largely linked to budget presentation and spending outside the appropriation law, insisting that the governor had no intention of presenting the 2026 budget. He described the absence of an appropriation law for 2026 as unprecedented in the state.
The Speaker added that the House would suspend consideration of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and the 2026 budget until investigations into the allegations are concluded. Proceedings were adjourned to January 15.
