A prominent civil society organization has squarely placed the blame for the fresh wave of political instability in Rivers State on Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The group alleges the governor has shown a blatant disregard for a crucial peace agreement personally mediated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Peace Deal Breach Triggers Legislative Backlash
The National Vanguard for Accountable and Transparent Democracy (NVATD) stated that the recent impeachment proceedings initiated by the Rivers State House of Assembly are a direct result of Governor Fubara's actions. In a statement released on 10 January 2026 by its spokesperson, Comrade Wisdom Abah, the group argued that the political crisis, which had been calmed, would not have resurfaced if the governor had faithfully implemented the peace accords brokered by President Tinubu in June and September 2025.
NVATD outlined that the core of the presidential peace deal required Governor Fubara to fully recognize the legitimacy of the State Assembly, restore its financial and administrative independence, settle all outstanding entitlements owed to lawmakers, and foster a collaborative working relationship on state matters, especially concerning the budget.
"By willfully breaching the peace deal supervised by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has invited political anarchy into Rivers State," the group's statement declared. "This impeachment crisis is not accidental; it is a direct consequence of the governor’s refusal to honour agreements freely entered into before the President and other key stakeholders."
Budget Presentation and Comments Fuel Tensions
The pro-democracy group pinpointed a specific action as the clearest violation of the pact: the governor's continued refusal to present the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the House of Assembly for approval. NVATD described this as a deliberate strategy to undermine the legislature, acting against both constitutional mandates and democratic principles.
Further escalating the situation, NVATD criticized comments attributed to Governor Fubara during a recent BBC interview. The group claimed the governor implied that the Assembly derived its authority from him, a remark they said violates the spirit of the peace agreement and shows a dangerous contempt for the doctrine of separation of powers.
"The governor was explicitly cautioned under the peace framework to avoid actions or statements capable of escalating tensions," NVATD noted. "Unfortunately, he has chosen confrontation, leading to the collapse of a peace process designed to stabilise Rivers State."
Calls for Accountability to Prevent Further Instability
Concluding its strong-worded critique, the National Vanguard for Accountable and Transparent Democracy suggested that Governor Fubara's alleged breach of the Tinubu-brokered agreement and the subsequent loss of confidence from the legislative arm have created an untenable situation. The group implied that to avert a deeper constitutional and political crisis in Rivers State, the governor should consider stepping down from his position.
The renewed impeachment move and the allegations from NVATD highlight the fragile state of politics in Rivers State, threatening to undo the temporary peace established by high-level intervention just months prior.
