Rivers Politics Unravel: Fubara Stands Firm Against Impeachment Rumors

Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of Rivers State, on Sunday allayed concerns about being impeached in the wake of Friday's Supreme Court ruling that recognized the 27 members who were loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike.

The Supreme Court's extensive ruling on Friday mandated that the Federal Government halt funding to Rivers State until Fubara reverses course and submits the budget to the pro-Wike lawmakers, led by Martins Amaewhule.

Additionally, the court declared last year's Fubara local government election to be invalid.

Wike and the parliamentarians now have the majority of the authority in the state's political crisis, which began in October 2023, according to the ruling of the highest court.

The Rivers State House of Assembly is divided in two, with 27 MPs supporting Wike and four others siding with Fubara during the height of the political crisis between Fubara and his estranged political godfather.

The Assembly complex was destroyed by a bomb explosion in October 2023 after the governor resisted the pro-Wike members' initial attempt to impeach Fubara.


Fubara had avoided the 27 lawmakers and instead delivered the 2024 and 2025 budgets to the four-member Assembly that supported him, claiming that the pro-Wike politicians had lost their legislative seats as a result of their switch from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

The Rivers State House of Assembly is divided in two, with 27 MPs supporting Wike and four others siding with Fubara during the height of the political crisis between Fubara and his estranged political godfather.

The Assembly complex was destroyed by a bomb explosion in October 2023 after the governor resisted the pro-Wike members' initial attempt to impeach Fubara.


Fubara had avoided the 27 lawmakers and instead delivered the 2024 and 2025 budgets to the four-member Assembly that supported him, claiming that the pro-Wike politicians had lost their legislative seats as a result of their switch from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

The governor is unfazed by the antics of those who criticize the state.

"The governor was not removed by the Supreme Court. It just withholds Rivers State's allocations.

When asked if Fubara will follow the directive to present the budget to the pro-Wike lawmakers, Johnson replied that the state administration has not yet received the Certified True Copy of the ruling so that it can review it and make a decision.

"I am unable to predict if we will put it into practice. After we review and consider the ruling, we will be able to follow the law without endangering the Rivers people or the law," Johnson stated.

He maintained that Amaewhule and twenty-six other people were no longer state Assembly members.

"We received a ruling from the Rivers State High Court stating that they are no longer state Assembly members.

A state High Court lacked jurisdiction, according to the Court of Appeal, which we reached.

"You will agree that the Supreme Court, the highest court we respect, made a decision based on the facts at hand if you follow this move," he continued.

Following the unfavorable Supreme Court ruling, the Rivers Elders, who have stood behind Fubara since his conflict with Wike started in 2023, counseled the governor against traveling to plead with his estranged political godfather.

High Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, a pioneer spokesman for the Pan-Niger Delta Forum and a member of the Rivers State Elders Forum, told The PUNCH on Sunday that the state will not give in to undue pressure due to the Supreme Court ruling.

"Well, Rivers State will not give in to needless pressure," stated Sara-Igbe, who is also the South-South Elders Forum's National Coordinator. We cannot ask anyone in this subject, and Rivers State cannot fall prey to someone who wishes to seize power.

The Supreme Court and the Federal Government are interested in the outcome. They will see what transpires at the proper moment.

Sara-Igbe responded, "We will not," when asked if state elders would counsel Fubara to plead with Wike and the 27 lawmakers.