The political landscape in Rivers State remains deeply fractured, with the threat of impeachment now hanging over Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy. The latest escalation stems directly from a dispute over the state's finances, according to a key aide to the governor.
Budget Refusal at Heart of the Feud
Darlington Orji, the Special Assistant on Political Affairs to Governor Fubara, has pinpointed the governor's decision not to present a supplementary budget to the State House of Assembly as the primary cause of the ongoing turmoil. This revelation came during an interview with Arise News.
Orji referenced Governor Fubara's own public statement about having approximately 600 billion naira in the state's coffers upon his return to office. The conflict, however, ignited during a meeting in November between the governor, the Speaker of the House Martin Amaewhule, Major Jack, and three other lawmakers.
"The interest of Rivers State House of Assembly was not captured. And the governor said we are in November," Orji explained, recounting the governor's response to the Speaker's request for a supplementary budget. Fubara reportedly asked for patience, suggesting that any uncaptured interests could be addressed in the main appropriation bill for 2025, which he intended to present in December.
"The year has already ended. You must present a budget and government says I don’t have a need for supplementary budget," Orji added, defending the governor's position.
Impeachment Proceedings Initiated
The budgetary disagreement has now escalated into a direct constitutional confrontation. On January 8, lawmakers moved to serve a notice of gross misconduct, initiating the impeachment process. Initially, four members sought peaceful resolution, but they reversed their stance by Friday, aligning with the rest of the assembly.
Speaker Martin Amaewhule subsequently called on the Chief Judge of Rivers State to immediately constitute a seven-member panel to commence impeachment proceedings against both Governor Fubara and his deputy. This move marks a significant intensification of a crisis that began in early 2025, a period so severe it led President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency and temporarily suspend the governor.
A Power Struggle, Not Constitutional Offences
Analysts and political stakeholders within Rivers State view the impeachment threat as a symptom of a deeper power struggle rather than genuine constitutional breaches. Former Rivers lawmaker, Ogbonna Nwuke, offered this perspective, linking the assembly's actions directly to the feud between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
"In this instance, the governor and his deputy are tied to the same impeachment. Quite a lot of people asked what the deputy governor did," Nwuke stated. He emphasized that the impeachment threat is a recurring tactic. "This is the third time that the house will threaten impeachment, meaning that anytime there is a disagreement or perceived disagreement between the governor and the minister (Wike), then the house led by Amaehwule will threaten impeachment."
The relationship between Wike and Fubara, which began as a mentor-protégé alliance during Fubara's 2023 gubernatorial campaign, has soured, primarily over control of the state's political structure and appointments. Experts describe the current crisis as a battle for the soul of Rivers State's political machinery and influence, with the budget dispute serving as the latest flashpoint in this protracted war.
