Politics

Impeachment Storm Hits Rivers as Fubara Travels to Meet Tinubu

Published by admin on January 9th, 2026.

Impeachment Storm Hits Rivers as Fubara Travels to Meet Tinubu

Political tension in Rivers State intensified on Thursday as impeachment moves against Governor Siminalayi Fubara gained momentum, even as the governor reportedly travelled abroad to brief President Bola Tinubu on the deepening crisis.

Sources in Government House, Port Harcourt, said the governor left the country alongside his close political ally, Edison Ehie, aboard a Rivers State government aircraft, with plans to seek an audience with President Tinubu, who is currently on vacation in France. The trip was said to be aimed at alerting the President to the impeachment plot being advanced by members of the State House of Assembly.

According to insiders, the impeachment notice was initially expected to be tabled next week. However, lawmakers aligned with former Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, reportedly accelerated the process, catching the executive arm off guard.

Efforts to obtain official comments from the governor’s political advisers were unsuccessful, as aides declined to speak on the unfolding situation. It was also confirmed that Governor Fubara remained outside the country as the crisis escalated.

During plenary, the Rivers State House of Assembly resolved to suspend the governor from presenting the Mid-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the 2026 budget until investigations into alleged misconduct are concluded. Lawmakers also formally commenced impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.

The Assembly mandated a probe into the administration’s financial and administrative activities, citing allegations of spending public funds without legislative approval and failure to submit statutory fiscal documents. Legislators argued that such actions breached constitutional provisions and undermined the authority of the legislature.

Several lawmakers further accused the governor of disregarding interventions previously made by President Tinubu to resolve the political impasse in the state, alleging that agreements reached during those interventions were ignored.

Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, insisted that the Assembly would proceed strictly in line with constitutional provisions, stressing that the process was not driven by personal rivalry but by alleged violations of the law. He referenced a Supreme Court judgment which, according to him, implicated both the governor and his deputy.

Meanwhile, divisions within the All Progressives Congress deepened as a coalition of APC leaders under the APC Leaders Forum and the Tinubu/Shettima Solidarity Movement called for the removal of Nyesom Wike as FCT Minister. The groups accused Wike of anti-party activities, insubordination, and actions capable of undermining national unity.

In an open letter to President Tinubu, the groups alleged that Wike had openly attacked APC leadership, intimidated party officials, and worked against the APC-led government in Rivers State. They warned that retaining him in the cabinet could weaken the party ahead of the 2027 elections and vowed to expand protests nationwide.

In contrast, the Rivers State chapter of the APC rejected the impeachment move against Governor Fubara and his deputy, warning that it could destabilise the state. The party urged lawmakers to prioritise peace and resist external pressures, stressing that political instability would hurt governance and development.

Other political parties also reacted. The African Democratic Congress said it was closely monitoring developments and would only take a position after a full assessment of the situation.

Residents and civil society voices expressed growing concern over the renewed impeachment push, describing it as ill-timed and harmful to the state’s economy and social stability. Many warned that repeated political crises were slowing business activities and worsening hardship for residents.

Despite public criticism, the Rivers State House of Assembly maintained that it would pursue the impeachment to its conclusion. Lawmakers insisted that the matter was constitutional, not political, accusing the governor of repeated violations of budgetary and administrative procedures.

The Assembly spokesperson denied external influence, dismissed claims of financial inducement, and argued that the governor’s actions amounted to impeachable offences under the 1999 Constitution.

As tensions continue to rise, Rivers State remains on edge, with residents, political actors, and observers awaiting possible intervention from President Tinubu to prevent further escalation.