Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has urged residents to remain calm as the State House of Assembly proceeds with an impeachment process against him. Fubara made the appeal during a church service marking the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, reassuring the public that “everything will be fine.”
The governor explained that his decision to remain silent amid the political turmoil was intentional, drawing strength from his faith in God.
He said, “The reason I don’t complain is because I know who I am and I have what is supreme — God. So, I want everyone to remain calm. What matters most is peace in this dear state, and with God’s grace, we will achieve it.”
Fubara also referenced his earlier comments at the New Year banquet held at Government House, stating, “Dogs bark when they don’t understand.” The governor made the remark shortly before inviting his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, to address the congregation.
Deputy Governor Odu thanked attendees for their presence and urged everyone to maintain good conduct, in line with the sermon delivered by Archbishop Blessing Eyinda, the Dean of the Anglican Communion, who reminded the congregation that “every action will be remembered.”
Odu also called on residents to continue supporting the administration through prayer, emphasizing that such support was a vital pillar sustaining the government.
Impeachment proceedings and political tensions
Last Thursday, the Rivers State House of Assembly resumed impeachment proceedings against Fubara and his Deputy, accusing them of gross misconduct, including allegations of unauthorized spending. This marks the second time lawmakers have moved to impeach Fubara since he took office in 2023, following a rift with his predecessor and former godfather, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The first attempt was in October 2023, when the Assembly accused the governor of misconduct. However, the impeachment process was suspended after President Bola Tinubu intervened to mediate the political rift between Fubara and Wike.
In December 2023, the Assembly officially withdrew the impeachment notice after Fubara and Wike signed a peace deal. However, that deal later collapsed, with the Rivers Assembly stripping Fubara of his power to appoint caretaker committees for local government councils.
The impeachment process was revived in March 2025 after fresh allegations of misconduct against both Fubara and Odu. During this time, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending all elected officials, including the governor, for six months. Fubara returned to office in September 2025 after another peace deal brokered by the president, ending the emergency rule.
However, the second peace agreement has since unraveled, with Wike accusing Fubara of failing to honor its terms. In addition, Fubara recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), likely in an effort to gain political support from the ruling party.
