Photo: River State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu. PHOTO: https://theverdict.ng/

The Rivers State House of Assembly suspended today the impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.

The lawmakers reached the decision following the intervention of President Bola Tinubu recently.

The impeachment push came days after the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, accused the governor of failing to honour a peace agreement brokered by President Tinubu in 2025.

The resolution to halt the process was adopted on Thursday during the Assembly’s resumed plenary in Port Harcourt, presided over by the Speaker, Majority Leader, Major Jack.

The House had, at its first sitting of 2026, begun impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy over allegations of gross misconduct, including the demolition of the State Assembly complex and alleged spending without legislative approval, among other claims.

The claims included the demolition of the Assembly complex, extra-budgetary spending, withholding funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and an alleged refusal to comply with a Supreme Court ruling on the financial autonomy of the legislature, among other issues.

Lawmakers said the notice of allegations was issued under Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).In a letter dated January 16, 2026, the Assembly asked the state Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, to constitute a seven-member panel to investigate the allegations.

However, the Chief Judge declined, citing a subsisting High Court order restraining further action on the matter.

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• Tunde Lemo

Dr. Tunde Lemo, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria , has declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Ogun State, under the All Progressives Congress (APC) .

Lemo made the declaration on Wednesday while participating in the ward congress of the party (APC) at Ward 12, Ita-Agemo, Isale-Igbein, in Abeokuta South Local Government Area.

He said that his decision to join the governorship race was driven by a commitment to fast-track grassroots development, noting that Ogun State is endowed with significant agricultural potential that requires the right leadership to harness for the benefit of its people.

The former CBN deputy governor, who was received by enthusiastic party members, assured them of inclusive governance and loyalty to the party.

He attributed the peaceful conduct of the ward congress in the state to the transformative policies of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that the exercise further strengthened unity and harmony within the party.

Lemo also commended Governor Dapo Abiodun for his developmental strides, particularly the construction of the Agro-Cargo Airport, which has received approval to commence commercial flights.

“I don’t want to canvass personal position here, but my presence today underscores the fact that APC is an organic party. You can see the crowd — we are members of one family.

There is no fighting; we are strong and vibrant, and people are happy because of the transformative agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

“Yes, of course, I have my eyes on 2027 just like everyone else, but everything is in the hands of God,” Lemo said.

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, following intense deliberations and a dramatic division vote on the contentious issue of electronic transmission of election results.

The bill, which seeks to repeal and re-enact the existing Electoral Act to address perceived gaps ahead of the 2027 general elections, was approved after a rowdy plenary session presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Key amendments include provisions allowing both electronic and manual transmission of results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) IReV portal, with manual transmission permitted as a fallback in cases of network failure or technical issues.

The most heated contention centered on Clause 60(3), which includes a proviso retaining the option for manual transmission. Opposition senators, led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, demanded a division vote under Senate rules. In the tally, 55 senators voted in favor of retaining the proviso, while 15 opposed it primarily from opposition benches.

The passage came after the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, moved a motion to reverse an earlier consideration and recommit the bill to the Committee of the Whole for fresh review.

Debates also covered adjustments to election timelines, including a reduction in the mandatory notice period for elections to avoid overlapping with the 2027 Ramadan period, as well as other legal and procedural clarifications.

The House of Representatives has since aligned with the Senate’s position on key issues, including the dual transmission mechanism and the scrapping of indirect party primaries in some contexts, passing a harmonized version amid protests and walkouts in the lower chamber.

Critics, including opposition parties like the PDP, have described the retention of manual transmission options as a “treacherous betrayal” of Nigerians’ demand for fully electronic processes to enhance transparency and reduce electoral malpractices. Supporters argue the hybrid approach provides necessary flexibility in areas with poor network coverage.

The harmonized bill now awaits concurrence between both chambers (if not already fully aligned) before transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent.

The amendments aim to strengthen preparations for the 2027 polls, though they have sparked widespread debate on the future of electoral integrity in Nigeria.

The development follows earlier versions passed by the House in December 2025 and the Senate’s initial considerations earlier this month.