Wike Clarifies Role in Rivers Crisis, Says He Sought Fubara’s Impeachment, Not Suspension
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said he never asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State but instead recommended that the state legislature impeach the governor for alleged misconduct.
Wike made this known in a video that surfaced on Friday, amid widespread speculation over his involvement in the events leading to the political crisis in Rivers State.
He stated that his intention was never to push for federal interference in the state’s affairs, but to see a constitutional process of impeachment initiated by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“I never said the president should suspend Fubara,” Wike said. “What I said is that we have a sitting governor who has abandoned governance, disobeyed the law, and disregarded the budget. The proper thing was for the House of Assembly to take action by impeaching him. That’s constitutional. That’s democracy.”
Wike, who served as governor of Rivers State for eight years, has had a falling out with Governor Fubara, his former political ally.
Their rift escalated late last year and triggered a power struggle in the state, culminating in the defection of 27 members of the State Assembly loyal to Wike from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The conflict took a dramatic turn in March 2025 when President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state, suspended Fubara and the State House of Assembly, and appointed a retired military officer, Ibok-Ete Ibas, as sole administrator.
The move drew sharp criticism from opposition parties and legal experts who questioned its constitutionality.
Wike’s clarification appears to be an attempt to distance himself from the president’s controversial decision. He maintained that the constitutional procedure would have been for the lawmakers to initiate an impeachment process against Fubara based on alleged violations and incompetence.
“If the House had done its job and removed him through impeachment, none of this federal intervention would have been necessary,” Wike said.
The political standoff in Rivers State has led to a Supreme Court case filed by seven PDP governors, challenging the legality of the president’s action.
They argue that the federal government overreached its constitutional authority by suspending a democratically elected governor.
As the case progresses, Wike’s comments are likely to further deepen tensions within the PDP and raise questions about the role of influential political figures in subnational crises.
The outcome of the legal challenge may shape the future of democratic governance and federalism in Nigeria.
