Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has appealed for calm and restraint among residents of the state as the impeachment process initiated by the State House of Assembly continues to generate political tension.
The governor made the appeal during a church service held to commemorate the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, where he assured the people that the situation would eventually be resolved peacefully.
Fubara explained that his silence in the face of mounting distractions was intentional, noting that his confidence is rooted in his faith. He told the congregation, “The reason why I don’t complain is that I know who I know who I am, I have what is supreme and that is God.
“So I want everyone to be relaxed. What is important is peace for this dear state and we will get it by the special grace of God.”
He also recalled a statement he made during the New Year banquet at Government House, remarking that “dogs bark when they do not understand,” a comment widely interpreted as a response to his critics.
The governor spoke briefly before inviting his Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, who had earlier been assigned to read the first lesson, to address the congregation.
In her remarks, Odu expressed gratitude to those in attendance and urged residents to conduct themselves responsibly, echoing the sermon delivered by the Dean of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Blessing Eyinda, who warned that every action would be remembered in time.
She further appealed to the people to continue praying for the administration, describing prayer as the pillar sustaining the government.
Last Thursday, the Rivers State House of Assembly formally commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy, accusing them of gross misconduct. The lawmakers also alleged that the governor spent public funds without legislative approval.
The current move marks the second impeachment attempt against Fubara since he assumed office in 2023, following a prolonged political feud with his predecessor and former ally, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
In October 2023, lawmakers initially began impeachment proceedings against the governor, but the process was abandoned after President Bola Tinubu intervened in the crisis at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The Assembly later withdrew the impeachment notice in December 2023 after a peace agreement was signed between Fubara and Wike. That agreement, however, later collapsed, leading to the Assembly stripping the governor of the power to appoint caretaker committees for local government councils.
In March 2025, the House again initiated impeachment proceedings against Fubara and Odu, serving them notices of alleged misconduct. While the process was ongoing, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, suspending all elected officials, including the governor, for six months.
Fubara returned to office in September 2025 after the president lifted the emergency rule, following another peace deal brokered in June between Fubara and Wike and their supporters.
That second agreement has also since collapsed, with Wike accusing the governor of reneging on its terms. In recent weeks, Fubara defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, a move widely seen as an effort to secure political backing from the ruling party.
What you should know
Rivers State has remained politically volatile since Governor Siminalayi Fubara fell out with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, shortly after assuming office in 2023.
The rivalry has repeatedly spilled into the State House of Assembly, resulting in multiple impeachment attempts and federal intervention. President Bola Tinubu has twice stepped in to broker peace, including imposing emergency rule in 2025.
Despite temporary settlements, the conflict has persisted, reshaping party alignments and governance in the oil-rich state. The latest impeachment move underscores the fragile political balance and the deep divisions that continue to define Rivers politics.
