By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

The political crisis rocking Rivers State took a new dimension yesterday as members of the State House of Assembly have accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy Ngozi Odu of gross misconduct.

The members raised the allegation in a notice sent to the Speaker Martin Amaewhule.

According to them, the action was in line with the Nigerian Constitution.

“In compliance with Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and other extant laws, we the undersigned members of the Rivers State House of Assembly hereby forward to you a Notice of Gross Misconduct by the Deputy Governor of Rivers State in the performance of the functions of her office,” the notice read.

This move marks a significant step towards potential impeachment proceedings against the state’s leadership.

The political crisis in Rivers state escalated after a Supreme Court ruling validated the legitimacy of the 27 lawmakers who had been at odds with Governor Fubara.

The lawmakers, loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, have been pushing for Fubara to present the 2025 state budget, which he has attempted to do but faced resistance from the Assembly.

The impeachment notice, submitted to the Speaker through the Clerk of the Assembly, cites reckless and unconstitutional expenditure of public funds among other allegations.

This development follows weeks of tension between the governor and the Assembly, with Fubara facing criticism for his handling of state affairs and refusal to recognize the full Assembly.

While some political figures have called for Fubara’s resignation or impeachment, others, including the Ijaw National Congress, have warned against such actions, citing potential instability in the region.

The PDP has also indicated that impeachment might not be feasible without presidential support.

The notice has immediately raised the political temperature in the oil-rich state where the Ijaw youths, kinsmen of Fubara, have threatened to plunge the state into chaos with oil installations coming under destructive targets.

Last weekend the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike had boasted that heaven will not fall if Governor Fubara is impeached by the 27 Lawmakers loyal to him (Wike).

The pro-Wike Lawmakers had accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of frustrating the implementation of the Supreme Court’s judgment, especially the aspect requiring him to re-present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the lawmakers.

The Assembly called on members of the public to compel the governor to sincerely follow the established due process in presenting the appropriation bill instead of playing to the gallery; whipping up public sentiment with a motive to demonise the lawmakers.

The Chairman, House Committee on Information and the spokesperson of the House, Dr Enemi Alabo George, who spoke in Port Harcourt, challenged the governor to produce the acknowledged copy of the letter he sent to the House.

George said: “Last week, we were told that on his way to Ogoni for a programme, the governor made a stopover at the gate of the House of Assembly Quarters to grant an interview to the press.”

George alleged that the governor frustrated all the efforts of the House to work with him to resolve the lingering crisis immediately after the Supreme Court judgment, particularly on the aspect of presenting the Appropriation Bill in the interest of the state.

Wike’s house not attacked or burnt – Police

The Rivers State Police Command has dismissed reports that the Port Harcourt residence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, was attacked and set ablaze by hoodlums.

On Sunday night, some online media platforms claimed that Wike’s residence was under siege and had been torched by unidentified individuals. However, in a statement issued on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, described the reports as false and misleading.

Iringe-Koko stated: “The attention of the Rivers State Police Command has been drawn to a misleading and malicious report circulating on various online media platforms, falsely claiming that riots have erupted in Rivers State, leading to the burning of the residence of the former Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, along with other acts of violence.”

She emphasized that the command had no record of such an incident and that the report was a deliberate attempt to incite unrest and spread fear.

“The Command categorically states that this report is entirely false, baseless, and a deliberate attempt by mischief makers to incite unrest and spread fear among law-abiding residents. There is no record of any such incident, and normalcy prevails across the state. The general public is urged to disregard these unfounded claims, which are clearly intended to cause panic and destabilize the relative peace and security enjoyed by the good people of Rivers State.”

Iringe-Koko further warned against the spread of false information, stating that those responsible for such acts would face legal consequences.

“Furthermore, the Police Command sternly warns those responsible for spreading such incendiary falsehoods to desist from engaging in activities capable of inciting public disorder. The full weight of the law will be brought to bear on individuals or groups found guilty of spreading misinformation or attempting to disrupt the peace in any form.”

She reassured the public of the police command’s commitment to maintaining security in the state and urged residents to rely on credible sources for information while reporting any suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.