Politics
Rivers Crisis: Impeachment of Fubara Lacks Constitutional Basis — Advocacy Group
A civic watchdog, the Good Governance Advocacy Centre (GGAC), has faulted the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, describing the move as unconstitutional and politically motivated.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Port Harcourt, the advocacy group said findings from its 72-hour forensic and legal review revealed no act of gross misconduct capable of warranting the removal of the governor or his deputy under Nigeria’s Constitution.
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The statement, signed by GGAC Country Representative, Dr Zaccheus Ocha, explained that the organisation conducted a detailed procedural and factual analysis of the allegations raised by the Rivers State House of Assembly and found them to be weak, speculative, and driven by political interests.
According to the group, the impeachment notice failed to meet the constitutional threshold required to initiate removal proceedings, noting that most of the allegations fell within the lawful discretionary powers of the executive arm of government.
“The Good Governance Advocacy Centre has concluded a 72-hour independent review which establishes that no act of gross misconduct has been committed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara or his deputy,” the statement read.
“What is being presented as impeachment is, in reality, a political project designed to serve personal and factional interests rather than protect constitutional order.”
GGAC disclosed that its review examined the impeachment notice, relevant constitutional provisions—particularly Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution—as well as financial records cited by lawmakers, stressing that none of the claims met the standard of grave violation required for impeachment.
The group also linked the impeachment attempt to the lingering political feud between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, describing the crisis as an extension of unresolved power struggles following the transition of power in the state.
“The unfolding events in Rivers State indicate that the impeachment proceedings are not taking place in isolation,” the statement noted.
“Our findings show that the actions of the House of Assembly are deeply rooted in post-transition power tussles and resistance to the governor’s efforts to assert institutional independence.”
GGAC further alleged that the state legislature had become a tool in a broader struggle to retain control of political structures in the state, warning that impeachment was being used as a coercive weapon to force political submission.
It cautioned that the misuse of impeachment for political vendettas poses a serious threat to democratic stability, not only in Rivers State but across the country.
The advocacy group also criticised the speed with which the impeachment process was initiated, raising concerns over due process, fair hearing, and lack of genuine dialogue.
“The rush to impeachment without meaningful attempts at reconciliation reinforces the conclusion that the process is punitive rather than corrective,” the group said.
GGAC warned that continuing with the impeachment could plunge Rivers State into prolonged political instability, distract governance, and undermine economic and security priorities in the oil-producing state.
The group called on members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to immediately suspend the impeachment proceedings and embrace dialogue, urging elders, political leaders, and civil society groups to intervene to prevent what it described as an avoidable constitutional crisis.
“Rivers State does not need another season of manufactured instability. The interests of the people must take precedence over personal ambitions and unresolved political grievances,” the statement added.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has handed a significant setback to Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, dismissing his appeal challenging a Federal High Court ruling that questioned his eligibility to contest the upcoming governorship election.
A three-member panel delivered a unanimous judgment on Monday, affirming that the trial court acted correctly when it allowed Dr Akindele Egbuwalo, the plaintiff, to amend his originating summons.
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Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, who read the lead judgment, said the governor failed to show that the High Court’s decision caused any miscarriage of justice or denied him a fair hearing.
The appeal was therefore dismissed for lacking merit, and the court awarded ₦2 million in costs against Aiyedatiwa.
The ruling reinforces the November 24, 2025, Federal High Court decision in Akure, which granted Egbuwalo permission to challenge Aiyedatiwa’s eligibility for re-election.
Earlier, the Court of Appeal also rejected an application by Aiyedatiwa to set aside a January 27, 2026, order staying proceedings in the case before the Federal High Court.
The appellate court clarified that the stay was a lawful exercise of its jurisdiction aimed at protecting the integrity of the proceedings.
The panel further emphasized that attempting to overturn its own order would be akin to sitting on appeal over its own decision.
The governor’s remaining option, the court noted, is to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court. Another ₦2 million in costs was awarded against Aiyedatiwa.
The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party has deepened following a ruling by the Court of Appeal in Abuja which upheld a ban on the party’s proposed national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.
A three-man panel of the appellate court on Monday dismissed an appeal filed by a faction of the party led by former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki, challenging the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to hear a suit concerning the controversial convention.
The Turaki-led faction had approached the Court of Appeal after a Federal High Court barred the party from holding its planned national convention scheduled for November 14 and 15, 2025.
SEE MORE: Fubara Moves to Rebuild Cabinet as R/Assembly Screens Nine Commissioner Nominees
The lower court also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising or validating the proposed convention.
However, delivering judgment, the appellate court ruled that the Federal High Court had the authority to entertain the case, rejecting the argument that the matter was purely an internal affair of the party.
According to the court, the appellants could not present what it described as a clear violation of the party’s constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as merely an internal party issue.
The panel subsequently dismissed the appeal and awarded a cost of N2 million against the appellants.
The ruling is part of judgments delivered in nine harmonised appeals filed by the Turaki-led faction over the dispute surrounding the convention.
The latest court decision is expected to further intensify the internal wrangling within the opposition party as it continues to grapple with leadership disputes and preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Rivers State House of Assembly on Monday began the screening of nine commissioner nominees submitted by the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, as part of efforts to reconstitute the state’s Executive Council.
The nominees arrived at the Assembly complex around 10 a.m. and were ushered into the chamber to undergo the screening exercise conducted by lawmakers.
Those screened include Datonye Alasia, Tonye Bellgam, Temple Nwofor, Peters Nwagor, Mrs. Charity Deemua, Tamuno Williams, Lekue Kenneth, Otonye TKD Amachree, and Amairigha Hart.
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During the session, each nominee mounted the podium to introduce themselves and respond to questions from members of the Assembly.
The proceedings were broadcast live on Arise TV.
Governor Fubara had earlier forwarded the list of nominees to the Assembly on March 5, 2026, following his dissolution of the State Executive Council in a move aimed at forming a new cabinet to assist in running the affairs of the state.
Prior to the screening, the Assembly directed the nominees to submit 40 copies of their curriculum vitae, photocopies of their academic credentials, and evidence of tax compliance as part of the confirmation process.
The directive was contained in a notice signed by the Clerk of the House, Dr. Emeka Amadi.
The screening exercise comes months after political activities resumed fully in the state following the lifting of a state of emergency by Bola Tinubu, the President of Nigeria.
The emergency rule, which was imposed on March 18, 2025, led to the suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the state legislature amid a prolonged political crisis linked to a power struggle between the governor and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
However, the six-month emergency rule was lifted on September 17, 2025, paving the way for the restoration of democratic governance and legislative activities in the oil-rich state.
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