…warning that repeated attempts to impeach Fubara were plunging the state into avoidable tension.
RIVERS, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | Tension simmered across Rivers State on Friday as political uncertainty deepened following the decision of the State House of Assembly to initiate impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu. While daily activities continued in Port Harcourt, the atmosphere was marked by unease, with growing concern over the implications of the renewed power struggle.
The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, whose loyalists dominate the Assembly, remained conspicuously silent as pressure mounted from various quarters urging lawmakers to suspend the impeachment process. Governor Fubara, who is currently outside the country and yet to be formally served with the impeachment notice, is said to be receiving support from influential power brokers and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) determined to prevent his removal.
Leading the calls for restraint is the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF), which strongly criticised the impeachment move and appealed for calm, dialogue, and compromise. In a statement, the South-South socio-political group warned that the unfolding crisis poses a serious threat to peace and stability, not just in Rivers State but across the Niger Delta. PANDEF announced the formation of a seven-member reconciliation committee chaired by former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), to mediate between the warring parties.
Rivers elder and PANDEF chieftain, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene swiftly, warning that repeated attempts to impeach Fubara were plunging the state into avoidable tension. He argued that Nigeria’s prevailing security challenges should take precedence over political infighting allegedly fuelled by personal interests.
Civil society organisations also weighed in. The International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights (ISSJHR) described the impeachment process as unconstitutional and reckless, cautioning lawmakers against mistaking public restraint for weakness. Similarly, the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) warned that the crisis could erode public trust and destabilise a state considered vital to Nigeria’s economic and strategic interests.
Despite mounting public concern, the national leadership of the APC has yet to issue an official statement, a silence that has further heightened anxiety. As of Friday, neither the party’s National Working Committee led by Professor Nentawe Yilwatda nor the Tony Okocha-led Rivers State executive recognised by the APC had publicly addressed the impeachment proceedings.
Breaking ranks, the dissolved Emeka Beke-led APC executive in Rivers called on the national leadership to intervene urgently and broker a political settlement. The appeal comes against the backdrop of a prolonged leadership dispute within the Rivers APC, which predates the impeachment crisis and remains unresolved in court.
Observers noted that Port Harcourt remained calm but subdued, with many residents privately blaming the crisis on lingering political rivalries linked to the former governor. Wike, who has refrained from commenting on the impeachment, appeared unusually reserved during a brief visit to Andoni Local Government Area, where he avoided political remarks and limited his public engagement.
Sources within the APC and the Presidency indicated that influential figures are once again working behind the scenes to prevent Governor Fubara’s removal. Recent public endorsements of the governor by senior party officials and security chiefs are seen as signals that key stakeholders favour political stability over confrontation.
As reconciliation efforts begin, PANDEF has called on all sides to cooperate fully with its mediation committee, stressing that peace, governance, and development must take precedence over partisan interests. The group warned that failure to de-escalate the crisis could have far-reaching consequences for Rivers State and the wider Niger Delta region.
