Rivers Political Crisis: Fubara Yet to Receive Impeachment Notice Amid Ongoing Tensions
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has not yet formally received the impeachment notice reportedly initiated by the Rivers State House of Assembly, despite lawmakers saying the process was launched last Thursday. This clarification comes as political tension deepens in the oil-rich South-South state.
According to government sources, Fubara’s absence from the state, having just returned from a trip abroad and attending events in Abuja, has delayed any formal delivery of impeachment papers to him. This contradicts claims circulating in some quarters that he was already served with the notice.
Impeachment Notice and Allegations
Last week, 26 lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, read out an impeachment notice accusing both Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, of gross misconduct under constitutional provisions. However, the Assembly insists the process is legitimate and devoid of political interference, rejecting suggestions that external actors are driving the moves.
Lawmakers cited alleged infractions including refusal to implement financial autonomy rulings, extra-budgetary expenditures, and interference with legislative operations, claims Fubara’s camp has neither confirmed nor formally addressed.
Calls for Restraint Within the Assembly
In a surprising development, two members of the Rivers State House of Assembly broke ranks to appeal for the impeachment process to be halted. At a press briefing, the minority leader and another lawmaker urged colleagues to “temper justice with mercy” and explore peaceful alternatives to removal from office, suggesting that the political standoff requires dialogue rather than confrontation.
Efforts at Reconciliation
Against the backdrop of this political impasse, the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has inaugurated a seven-member reconciliation committee led by former Attorney-General Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN. The committee has been given two weeks to help mediate and ease tensions between the state executive and Legislature.
PANDEF’s leadership stressed that prolonged conflict could harm the stability and development of Rivers State, a region regarded as strategically important to Nigeria’s economy.
Public and Political Reactions
Civil society groups and regional stakeholders have voiced concern about the impeachment threat. The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) described the attempt to remove Fubara as undermining national leadership efforts and warned it could set back peace efforts in the region. Meanwhile, supporters of Fubara argue that legislative actions are politically motivated rather than rooted in constitutional oversight.
As political actors continue to spar, the crisis in Rivers remains unresolved, with tensions extending beyond the House of Assembly into broader debates about governance, party loyalty, and democratic accountability.