Power Play Exposed: Rivers Lawmakers Accused of Cashing In On Fubara Impeachment Plot

The Good Governance Advocacy Centre (GGAC), an independent civic watchdog, has cleared Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara of any misconduct warranting his removal from office.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a statement released on Thursday, the group described the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Fubara and his deputy as a politically motivated witch-hunt, driven by personal interests rather than genuine constitutional breaches.

Signed by GGAC’s country representative, Zaccheus Ocha, the statement said a 72-hour forensic review of the impeachment notice and related allegations found no evidence of gross misconduct.

The organization explained that it conducted a thorough legal, procedural, and factual analysis of the issues raised by the Rivers State House of Assembly, concluding that the claims were “manifestly weak, speculative, and politically driven.”

GGAC noted that the impeachment petition failed to meet the constitutional threshold required to initiate removal proceedings, pointing out that the allegations were either unsupported by verifiable facts or fell within the governor’s lawful discretionary powers.

The statement reads in part:

“After a 72-hour independent review, the Good Governance Advocacy Centre concludes that no act of gross misconduct has been established against Governor Siminalayi Fubara or his deputy. What is being presented as impeachment is, in substance, a political project aimed at personal and factional gains, not the protection of constitutional order.”

The review examined the text of the impeachment notice, relevant constitutional provisions, financial records cited by lawmakers, and public actions of the executive since the administration took office. GGAC concluded that none of the claims met the standard of “grave violation or misconduct” under Section 188 of the Constitution.

The group also linked the impeachment move to the ongoing political feud between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, describing the proceedings as an extension of unresolved power struggles rather than a genuine accountability effort.

“The legislative actions against Governor Fubara are deeply rooted in post-transition power tussles following the exit of former Governor Nyesom Wike and the resistance to the governor’s efforts to assert institutional independence,” GGAC said.

The organization further criticized the Rivers House of Assembly for becoming “a proxy battlefield” in a wider struggle to control state institutions, warning that impeachment was being used as a coercive tool to enforce political submission.

“Disagreements between former and incumbent leaders cannot be resolved through the abuse of constitutional mechanisms. Impeachment is an extraordinary remedy, not a weapon to enforce loyalty or settle succession disputes,” the statement added.

GGAC cautioned that politicizing impeachment threatens not only stability in Rivers State but also democracy nationwide. The group noted that several allegations pertained to administrative decisions squarely within the governor’s lawful authority, including appointments and budgetary actions, with no evidence of criminal wrongdoing or court violations.

The group also criticized the speed and procedural conduct of the impeachment process, highlighting “clear procedural red flags,” such as inadequate time for response and indications of a pre-determined outcome.

“The rush to impeachment, without sincere dialogue or reconciliation, reinforces the conclusion that the process is punitive rather than corrective,” GGAC said.

The watchdog warned that continuing the impeachment could trigger prolonged instability, distract from governance, and undermine economic and security priorities in the oil-producing state. It urged lawmakers to suspend the proceedings and engage in dialogue, calling on political leaders, elders, and civil society actors to intervene and prevent what it described as “an avoidable constitutional crisis engineered by political brinkmanship.”

“Rivers State does not need another season of manufactured instability. Citizens’ interests must take precedence over personal ambitions and unresolved political grievances,” GGAC added.

The organization also called on national democratic institutions to monitor developments, emphasizing that impeachment processes must be strictly guided by law and not by the influence of powerful political actors.

“The credibility of Nigeria’s democracy depends on how power is exercised and restrained. When impeachment becomes a bargaining chip in elite power struggles, public trust in democratic institutions is eroded,” the statement concluded.

The report comes amid heightened political tension in Rivers following the state assembly’s decision to commence impeachment proceedings against Fubara and his deputy Odu, drawing mixed reactions from political actors and civil society. GGAC said it would make its full analytical report available to lawmakers, stakeholders, and the public, stressing that transparency, restraint, and adherence to constitutional norms are essential for democratic stability.

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