Impeachment Plot Against Fubara A Threat To Rivers Stability – Group

Nigerian professionals in the diaspora have thrown their weight behind Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, warning that renewed impeachment proceedings against them constitute a destabilising political project that threatens democratic order in the oil-rich state.

The Nigerian Diaspora Professionals for Democratic Stability (NDPDS) said the impeachment moves by the Rivers State House of Assembly reflect an abuse of legislative power rooted in the prolonged political struggle between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Federal Capital Territory Minister.

In a statement issued Monday and signed by the group’s president, Dr Chukwudi Nnamani, and secretary, Mr Adewale Ogunsiwaju, NDPDS warned that the impeachment process risks reducing constitutional mechanisms to instruments of political vendetta.

“The impeachment threats against Governor Fubara have become cyclical, predictable and politically motivated. This is no longer about oversight or constitutional accountability; it is about who controls Rivers State’s political structure and resources,” the statement said.

“A democracy cannot function when impeachment is weaponised as a tool of supremacy rather than a last-resort constitutional remedy.”

The group traced the crisis to the breakdown of the political relationship between Fubara and Wike shortly after the governor assumed office, noting that subsequent legislative actions have mirrored factional loyalties rather than public interest.

“It is impossible to ignore the context. The House of Assembly has been deeply polarised, with legislative actions reflecting allegiance to external political authority rather than the electorate,” the diaspora professionals said.

“No democracy should tolerate a situation where a sitting governor is subjected to perpetual threats of removal for refusing to submit to political godfathers.”

NDPDS warned that continued impeachment attempts could undermine governance, scare investors and deepen institutional instability in a state critical to Nigeria’s economic survival.

“Rivers State is not a playground for political brinkmanship. It is a strategic economic nerve centre, and governance cannot be held hostage to unresolved elite power struggles,” the statement added.

“Every impeachment threat sends a negative signal to investors, development partners and citizens who expect stability, not chaos.”

The group defended Fubara’s conduct in office, arguing that policy disagreements or political realignments do not meet the constitutional threshold of gross misconduct required for impeachment.

“Disagreement is not a crime. Independence is not misconduct. A governor asserting constitutional authority should not be treated as a rebel,” the statement noted.

“The threshold for impeachment is deliberately high because the framers of the constitution understood the danger of legislative overreach.”

The diaspora community expressed concern that repeated impeachment plots erode confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions, warning that the Rivers situation sets a dangerous precedent.

“When impeachment becomes routine rather than exceptional, democracy is weakened. What is happening in Rivers should worry every Nigerian, because it sets a precedent where electoral mandates can be endlessly undermined through legislative pressure,” the group said.

NDPDS called on political leaders, the judiciary and stakeholders to prioritise dialogue and constitutional restraint, urging the Rivers Assembly to step back from actions that could plunge the state into deeper crisis.

“The mandate of the people must be respected. Rivers State deserves governance, not perpetual political warfare,” the statement concluded.

The Rivers political crisis has persisted since Fubara’s inauguration in May 2023, with tensions escalating between the governor and pro-Wike lawmakers over control of state structures and resources. Previous attempts at resolution, including a presidential intervention in December 2023, have yielded limited success.

Efforts to reach the Rivers State House of Assembly for comment were unsuccessful at press time.