The Rivers State chapter of the Labour Party has launched a scathing critique against the state's House of Assembly, labeling the recent move to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara as a blatant abuse of Nigeria's democratic principles. The party's chairperson, Hilda Dokubo, issued the condemnation during a television appearance on January 17, 2026.
An Unconstitutional Power Play
Dokubo specifically targeted the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, which initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy. She argued that the lawmakers' actions were not grounded in constitutional due process but were rather a weaponization of legislative power.
"This particular administration has often done things that are not constitutional," Dokubo stated on News Central. "If we have already thrown away the 1999 constitution as amended, then we must make it clear to the people because the people in offices keep breaking the rules." She expressed deep concern that the ongoing crisis creates confusion about which set of laws the state's leaders are actually following.
A Dangerous Precedent for Nigerian Democracy
The Labour Party leader warned that allowing the impeachment to succeed would set a perilous example for Nigeria's other 35 states. She framed it as a threat to the stability of gubernatorial tenures nationwide.
"If this is allowed to happen in Rivers State, then the other governors should be ready," Dokubo cautioned. "It means that once your house of assembly members feel they have not been considered in anything, they can impeach anybody. I think it is an abuse of our democracy, on us as a people, especially the Rivers people."
She pointedly noted that the state's three previous governors did not experience similar "drama," suggesting the current turmoil is an anomaly driven by personal disputes rather than genuine governance issues.
Rooted in a Broken Mentor-Protégé Relationship
Dokubo's analysis aligns with that of other political observers, including former Rivers lawmaker Ogbonna Nwuke. Both identify the core of the crisis as a severe political disagreement between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
What began as a mentor-protégé relationship has now soured, spilling over into the legislative arena. Dokubo dismissed simplistic narratives framing the conflict as mere political strength or weakness.
"All these things are coming up everywhere just because of one man," she asserted, in an apparent reference to Wike's influence. "The fact that people think this is politics; this man is strong, that man is weak... it says how ill-informed most of us already are because if you are taking sides with your oppressor, then something is wrong with your mental state."
Her final warning was a stark one for governors across Nigeria: "Every governor should watch out, and they should ensure this does not happen." The statement underscores the fear that the Rivers political crisis could become a template for political vendettas, destabilizing democracy at the state level if left unchecked.
