A prominent civil society organisation has called on Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to immediately prioritise dialogue with members of the State House of Assembly. This move is seen as crucial to resolving the escalating political crisis, which stems from impeachment proceedings initiated over alleged constitutional breaches.
Constitutional Duty Versus Political Dialogue
In a statement released in Abuja on 11 January 2026, the group known as the Vanguard for Democracy and Peace presented its position. The organisation's coordinator, Comrade Jackson Ibe, described the impeachment move as a lawful, constitutional response to alleged violations by the state's executive arm. He stressed that while the Assembly's actions are rooted in the 1999 Constitution, political reconciliation through dialogue is the most viable path to lasting stability in Rivers State.
"Nigeria’s democracy can only thrive when every arm of government operates strictly within the constitutional boundaries set for it," Ibe stated. He emphasised a dual approach: the legislature must be allowed to perform its duties without intimidation, while political dialogue is essential to ease tensions and prevent a total institutional breakdown.
Warning Against Undermining the Legislature
The organisation issued a stern warning that any attempt to undermine or incapacitate the Rivers State House of Assembly as it carries out its lawful responsibilities would be met with strong resistance from Nigerians committed to democratic governance. The group called for reason to prevail over sentiment, arguing that any executive breach of the constitution must attract appropriate legislative intervention, including impeachment where necessary.
It accused Governor Fubara of adopting a confrontational stance rather than pursuing sustained engagement with lawmakers and other stakeholders. This approach, the group noted, risks deepening the crisis further. The Vanguard for Democracy and Peace urged the governor to restore trust and avert a possible removal from office by prioritising peace, dialogue, and constitutional engagement with the Assembly.
Allegations of Constitutional Breaches
The group highlighted that the impeachment process, led by Speaker Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, is framed as a constitutional intervention. Its stated goals are to restore accountability, stability, and public confidence in the state's governance. The organisation maintained that a situation where the executive fails to account to the people through their elected representatives is itself a serious constitutional breach that must be addressed through lawful democratic mechanisms.
It recalled specific allegations by Rivers lawmakers, which include:
- Persistent violations of budgetary procedures.
- Unauthorised withdrawals of public funds.
- Obstruction of legislative oversight functions.
The group argued that such actions undermine transparency, weaken fiscal discipline, and erode the Assembly's constitutional role in safeguarding public funds. If left unchecked, these practices create a climate of fear, limit lawful access to public records, and cripple procurement and accountability mechanisms.
Urging the Assembly to stand firm in upholding its constitutional mandate, Comrade Jackson Ibe concluded with a stark warning: "In a democracy, the Constitution must prevail over personalities. Where there are no effective checks and balances, both the state and the country drift towards chaos."
