Rivers Assembly Halts Impeachment Proceedings Against Fubara
By Momodu Favour
The Rivers State House of Assembly has suspended the impeachment proceedings initiated against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, marking a dramatic turn in the ongoing political crisis rocking the oil-rich state.
The decision was taken during plenary at the Assembly complex in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, February 19, following a motion moved and adopted by lawmakers at the resumed sitting.
The development comes barely a week after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu intervened in the escalating face-off between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The political tension in Rivers State deepened in January when lawmakers loyal to Wike issued a notice of impeachment against Fubara and his deputy, accusing them of gross misconduct. The move intensified the power struggle between the governor and his political benefactor-turned-rival.
The impeachment notice followed months of strained relations between both camps, resulting in legislative gridlock, parallel political meetings, and heightened security presence around key government institutions in the state.
Observers had expressed concern that the crisis could further destabilize governance in Rivers, a state considered politically strategic in Nigeria’s South-South region.
President Tinubu’s recent intervention reportedly involved high-level consultations aimed at restoring peace and ensuring stability in the state.
Although details of the discussions were not made public, sources indicated that both camps were urged to embrace reconciliation in the interest of governance and development.
The suspension of the impeachment process is widely seen as a direct outcome of that intervention, signaling a temporary de-escalation of tensions.
While the Assembly’s decision to halt the proceedings offers a reprieve for Governor Fubara and his deputy, political analysts note that the underlying rift between the two power blocs remains unresolved.
Stakeholders are now watching closely to see whether the truce will translate into lasting political stability or merely postpone another round of confrontation.
As of press time, neither the governor’s office nor the camp of the FCT minister had issued an official statement regarding the latest development.
