Political tension in Rivers State took a new turn on Friday as stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) called on the National Assembly to urgently intervene in the growing crisis between the Rivers State House of Assembly and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The stakeholders, made up of civil society organisations, media professionals and APC leaders, stormed the party’s national secretariat in Abuja to protest what they described as an unlawful and dangerous attempt to impeach the governor. They urged federal lawmakers to take over the functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly to prevent a breakdown of democratic order in the state.
During the protest, the group asked the National Assembly to invoke Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution. This section empowers the National Assembly to step in and perform the duties of a state assembly when the assembly is unable to function properly or when there is a serious threat to democracy.
According to the protesters, the Rivers State House of Assembly has lost its credibility and legitimacy due to what they called repeated abuse of legislative powers. They argued that the impeachment threat against Governor Fubara is not based on facts or the law, but on political interests.
Chanting slogans and holding placards, the protesters accused the lawmakers of pushing the state toward political instability. Some of the placards read, “Save Rivers Democracy,” “Stop Illegal Impeachment,” and “National Assembly Must Act Now.”
Speaking to journalists during the protest, spokesperson of the APC Leaders Forum, Eze Chukwuemeka, warned that the situation in Rivers State had gone beyond normal political disagreement.
“This is no longer oversight. This is a vendetta aimed at destabilising governance in Rivers State. Silence at this point is complicity,” he said.
Chukwuemeka insisted that the impeachment move was reckless and capable of undermining democratic institutions. He said elected lawmakers should focus on lawmaking and oversight, not personal or political battles.
Also speaking, the coordinator of one of the civil society groups present, Comrade Blessing Ibama, dismissed allegations of misconduct against Governor Fubara. She said there was no evidence to justify impeachment.
“There is no shred of evidence showing gross misconduct by Governor Fubara. What we are seeing are allegations that exist only in the imagination of desperate politicians,” she said.
The protesters accused 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, allegedly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of driving the crisis. The lawmakers are led by the Speaker of the Assembly, Martins Amaewhule.
According to the group, the lawmakers are acting to protect personal and political interests rather than the welfare of Rivers people. They alleged that the lawmakers had already benefited financially through large constituency funds, luxury sport utility vehicles (SUVs), and advance payment of one year’s salary.
Though these allegations have not been independently verified, the protesters insisted that such actions raise serious moral and ethical questions about the credibility of the lawmakers.
The Rivers State political crisis has its roots in the breakdown of the relationship between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. Fubara, who took office in May 2023, was widely seen as Wike’s political ally and successor. However, disagreements over control of party structures and governance style reportedly led to a power struggle.
This disagreement soon spilled into the Rivers State House of Assembly, where most lawmakers were believed to be loyal to Wike. The tension has since affected governance, legislative activities and public peace in the state.
In late 2023 and early 2024, the crisis worsened when the Assembly attempted to impeach Governor Fubara, accusing him of misconduct. The move sparked protests within and outside the state, with many Nigerians calling for restraint and dialogue.
Although the impeachment attempt was stalled, threats of renewed action have continued to hang over the state, creating uncertainty and fear among residents and investors.
Section 188 of the Constitution clearly outlines the process for removing a governor, including clear evidence of gross misconduct and fair hearing. Critics of the Rivers Assembly argue that these conditions have not been met.
Section 11(4) of the Constitution, which the protesters want the National Assembly to invoke, has been used in the past during severe political crises. In 2014, for example, the National Assembly took over the legislative functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly for a short period following violence and division among lawmakers.
Supporters of the protest say a similar intervention is now needed to restore calm and protect democratic institutions in the state.
The protesters warned that failure by the National Assembly to act could worsen the crisis and set a bad example for other states. They said lawmakers at the federal level have a duty to protect democracy, regardless of party differences.
They also vowed to continue their protest until their demands are met. According to them, peaceful action remains their chosen method, but they will not back down.
As of the time of filing this report, the Rivers State House of Assembly had not officially responded to the accusations made by the APC stakeholders. Efforts to reach Assembly leaders for comment were unsuccessful.
Similarly, there was no immediate reaction from the National Assembly on the demand to take over the Rivers Assembly’s functions.
For many Nigerians watching from across the country, the Rivers crisis is another test of the nation’s democratic strength. Rivers State, a key oil-producing state, plays a major role in Nigeria’s economy and politics. Prolonged instability in the state could have wider implications.
As tensions continue to rise, many citizens and groups are calling for dialogue, respect for the rule of law and the protection of democratic values.