The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, on Thursday accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, of undermining democratic governance, alleging that the executive arm has been spending public funds without legislative approval.
Amaewhule made the allegations shortly after the Assembly commenced impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy over alleged gross misconduct.
He accused Fubara of deliberately refusing to present the 2026 budget to the House, in clear violation of constitutional provisions, insisting that nothing legally prevents the governor from laying the appropriation bill before lawmakers.
“Nothing is holding the government from presenting the budget; he chose not to,”
Amaewhule said. “This governor has openly told his supporters that the House of Assembly is a toothless bulldog that cannot enforce the constitution.”
The speaker described the situation as a grave threat to democracy in Rivers State, warning that allowing the governor and his deputy to remain in office would further erode constitutional order.
“This is a sad commentary for our democracy. Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy are nothing but a threat to our democracy,” he said.
Amaewhule further alleged that the governor has continued to travel and spend taxpayers’ money without the approval of the legislature, a practice he said partly triggered earlier impeachment attempts against the administration.
“They are moving from place to place, spending public funds without authorisation from the House,” he said.
According to the speaker, several interventions by President Bola Tinubu and former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, failed to resolve the prolonged standoff between the executive and the legislature.
“Mr President has called several meetings, and our leader, Chief Nyesom Wike, also intervened, but the governor insisted he would not present the budget,” Amaewhule alleged.
“He claimed he was above the constitution and that nothing would happen to him.”
Amaewhule also accused the governor of abandoning the 2023 Appropriation Law, alleging that contracts were awarded and funds spent outside the scope of legislative approval.
“Even when approval was given in 2023, the governor abandoned the appropriation law and began awarding contracts without recourse to the House,” he said.
He lamented what he described as an unprecedented governance crisis in the state, claiming that Rivers had never experienced such a breakdown in executive-legislative relations.
“It is unbelievable that in the 21st century, a state like Rivers has neither presented nor passed an appropriation bill for the coming fiscal year,” Amaewhule added, insisting that no other state in Nigeria is currently in such a situation.
The speaker also alleged that the governor had openly boasted to supporters that lawmakers were powerless, a development he said justified the impeachment process now underway.
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