The political crisis in Rivers State took a new turn on Thursday as the Rivers State House of Assembly accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy of breaching a peace agreement brokered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The accusation was made by the Majority Leader of the House, Major Jack, during the formal presentation of alleged acts of misconduct against the governor as part of the impeachment process.
The development comes amid a long-running power struggle in Rivers State that has divided the political class and affected governance in the oil-rich state.
The House had earlier on Thursday announced the commencement of impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara, a move that has further deepened the political tension in the state.
While reading out the allegations, Major Jack said the governor and his deputy failed to honour agreements reached during peace meetings facilitated by President Tinubu.
According to him, the president intervened on two occasions to restore peace between Governor Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who is the immediate past governor of Rivers State.
He said despite the president’s efforts, the governor later backed out of the agreements.
“President Tinubu brokered peace between Governor Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, twice, but the governor reneged,” Major Jack said.
He accused the governor and his deputy of poor leadership and lack of commitment to good governance in the state.
“The governor and his Deputy have continued to act as tyrants and have no good plans for transparency and good governance in Rivers State,” he said.
“They have repeatedly breached and backtracked on peace agreements facilitated by the President of this country, Bola Tinubu.”
The Majority Leader further stated that the governor and his deputy ignored the terms agreed upon during a peace meeting held in December 2023, as well as another agreement reached in 2025.
“The governor and his deputy failed to heed the terms of agreement reached during the peace parley in December 2023 and another one in 2025,” he added.
The Rivers political crisis began shortly after Governor Fubara assumed office in 2023. The crisis is rooted in a power struggle between him and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The disagreement quickly spread to the Rivers State House of Assembly, leading to divisions among lawmakers and a breakdown of trust between the executive and legislative arms of government.
At the height of the crisis, the Assembly complex was affected by controversy, with lawmakers holding parallel sittings and accusing one another of working against the interests of the state.
Concerned about the situation, President Tinubu stepped in to prevent a total collapse of governance in Rivers State. In December 2023, he hosted key stakeholders, including Governor Fubara and Wike, in a bid to restore peace.
That meeting reportedly produced an agreement aimed at ending hostilities and allowing the government to function smoothly. However, the Assembly now claims that the governor failed to fully implement the terms of that agreement.
According to lawmakers, a second peace effort was made in 2025, again with the president’s involvement, but they insist that the governor and his deputy once again went back on the agreed terms.
The Assembly’s decision to begin impeachment proceedings marks a major escalation in the crisis. Impeachment is a constitutional process that can lead to the removal of a governor from office if found guilty of gross misconduct.
Under the Nigerian Constitution, impeachment requires detailed allegations, investigation by a panel, and approval by a two-thirds majority of the House.
While the Assembly has begun the process, it remains unclear how the governor will respond to the allegations. As of the time of filing this report, there was no official reaction from Governor Fubara or his deputy to the claims made by the lawmakers.
They warn that prolonged political instability could affect public services, investment, and the overall welfare of residents.
Some civil society groups have called for restraint, urging both sides to put the interest of the people first and avoid actions that could lead to unrest.
Others have appealed to President Tinubu to intervene once again to prevent the crisis from spiralling out of control.
Residents of Rivers State have expressed mixed reactions to the impeachment move. While some support the Assembly’s action, others fear it could worsen the already tense political atmosphere.
“This fighting has gone on for too long,” said a Port Harcourt resident. “We just want our leaders to focus on development and peace.”
As events continue to unfold, all eyes are on the Rivers State House of Assembly and the governor, with many Nigerians watching closely to see how the crisis will be resolved.