Impeachment Notice to Fubara Invalid, Says PDP Chieftain Over ‘Madam’ Error
“A PDP chieftain, Daboikiabo Warmate, says the impeachment notice allegedly issued to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara is invalid, citing a fundamental legal flaw in the document.”
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Daboikiabo Warmate, has declared the impeachment notice reportedly issued to Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, by the State House of Assembly as invalid, citing what he described as a fundamental administrative and legal defect.
Warmate made the assertion during an interview with Trust TV on Friday, January 9, 2026, while reacting to the deepening political crisis in Rivers State following moves by lawmakers to initiate impeachment proceedings against the governor.
According to him, no valid impeachment notice has been properly served on Governor Fubara in line with constitutional and administrative requirements.
He argued that the purported letter allegedly sent to the governor fails the basic test of legality because it was wrongly addressed to “Madam,” a description he described as “clearly inaccurate, unacceptable, and legally defective.”
Warmate stressed that Rivers State does not have a female governor, noting that Governor Fubara is neither a woman nor a “Mrs.”
The PDP chieftain explained that impeachment is a serious constitutional process that must strictly comply with laid-down procedures. He noted that any error—especially one as fundamental as misidentifying the recipient of an official notice—renders such a document defective and incapable of producing legal consequences.
“As far as the law is concerned, Governor Fubara has not been formally notified of any impeachment process,” Warmate insisted, adding that the misaddressed letter cannot be recognised as an official impeachment notice under constitutional or administrative standards.
He further described it as both morally wrong and procedurally improper for a legislative body to address a sitting male governor as a woman in an official communication, saying the error raises serious concerns about the seriousness, competence, and intent behind the impeachment move.
Warmate maintained that official correspondence—particularly on an issue as grave as impeachment—must meet minimum standards of accuracy and professionalism. He argued that the mistake goes beyond a mere typographical error and reflects deeper procedural flaws in the process being followed by the lawmakers.
According to him, until a properly addressed and legally compliant notice is served on the governor, there is no lawful basis to claim that impeachment proceedings have commenced. He warned that any public discourse or actions founded on the flawed letter are premature and misleading.
The PDP chieftain also cautioned that attempts to sidestep due process for political reasons could further destabilise Rivers State. He urged lawmakers to respect constitutional provisions and avoid actions capable of undermining democratic governance.
Emphasising the gravity of impeachment, Warmate said it is not a casual political tool but a constitutional mechanism that demands strict adherence to procedure, warning that failure to do so could expose the entire process to legal challenges and possible nullification by the courts.
In his words:
“As far as the law and the office of the governor are concerned, no notice of impeachment has been submitted. It is against every moral sense and even administrative practice to address a man as a woman. Look at the letter sent to the governor—they addressed him as ‘Madam.’ We do not have a governor who is a ‘Mrs.’ Our governor is not a ‘Madam.”
Amaewhule wants to become governor through backdoor – PDP
Earlier, Daboikiabo Warmate, had accused the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, of attempting to become governor “through the back door,” a move he described as unconstitutional.
Speaking on Daily Break on Trust TV on Friday, Warmate said Amaewhule stood to benefit personally from the current controversy surrounding the state budget.
“Speaker Martins Amaewhule want to become governor through the back door but he will never be, its because he is going to be the primary beneficiary of this issue,” he said.
He referenced Section 122 of the Constitution, which allows a governor to spend from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for up to six months after the expiration of a budget if the next budget has not been passed – a provision commonly referred to as “default appropriation”.
Warmate described the action of the Rivers State House of Assembly as an insult, not only to the President, but also to the institution of governance, including the Senate and the House of Representatives.
“It’s an insult to the President the action of the State of Assembly, is an insult to the president to the institution to their senior which is the Senate and the House of Representatives.”
He explained that the 2025 budget was prepared by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, vetted by the sole administrator, presented to the President, and subsequently transmitted to the National Assembly.
According to Warmate, the National Assembly passed the budget, and Rivers State now has an appropriation law in place.
“Any attempt to have the governor represent the law locally is misplaced. The law already exists, and whatever the governor spends under it is constitutional,” he stated.
