Rivers Grassroot Movement Condemns Impeachment Moves Against Governor Fubara, Calls for Tinubu’s Intervention
The Rivers Grassroot Movement (RGM), a coalition of civic and community-based groups in Rivers State, has condemned the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu. The group described the action as an attack on democratic norms and a calculated attempt to destabilize the state’s political system.
Speaking during a press briefing in Port Harcourt, the convener of the movement, Hon. Ambassador Jackrich Sobomabo Egberipapa, accused key political actors of driving the impeachment process for personal and political ambitions rather than the interest of Rivers State and its citizens. He specifically alleged that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, alongside the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, were central figures in the deepening political crisis.
According to Egberipapa, the impeachment proceedings lack both moral and constitutional justification. He rejected claims that Governor Fubara failed to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the House of Assembly, explaining that the budget process followed due constitutional procedures during the period of emergency rule in the state. He noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu transmitted the Rivers State Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly, where it was passed into law on June 25, 2025.
Egberipapa further stated that Rivers State is currently operating under a valid fiscal framework. Citing Section 122 of the 1999 Constitution, he explained that a governor is permitted to authorize expenditures for up to six months where an appropriation bill has not yet been passed. He added that the passage of the 2025 budget in June means the fiscal cycle remains valid until August 2026.
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The group also questioned the conduct of the Rivers State House of Assembly, noting what it described as inconsistencies in legislative actions. According to RGM, the Assembly had adjourned for recess on December 5, 2025, with plans to reconvene on January 26, 2026, but unexpectedly reconvened on January 8, 2026, specifically to initiate impeachment proceedings.
Addressing allegations that Governor Fubara unlawfully approved a ₦100,000 bonus for lawmakers, the group dismissed the claims as misleading. RGM alleged that during the emergency administration in the state, a former Sole Administrator approved significantly larger financial benefits for lawmakers, including ₦450 million each and sport utility vehicles, without objections from the same legislators now raising concerns.
Describing this development as hypocrisy, the movement insisted that the impeachment effort is driven by political calculations rather than concerns about governance or financial accountability.
The Rivers Grassroot Movement called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene, warning that continued political tension could undermine peace, governance, and economic stability in Rivers State. The group also cautioned that the crisis could have broader implications for national political alignments if left unresolved.
Despite the ongoing political challenges, RGM praised Governor Fubara’s administration for what it described as prudent management of state resources and continued investment in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and grassroots economic empowerment.
The group reaffirmed its support for Governor Fubara and Deputy Governor Odu, encouraging them to remain focused on governance and to seek re-election in 2027. It also called on the Rivers State House of Assembly to immediately withdraw the impeachment proceedings in the interest of peace and stability.
RGM concluded by emphasizing the need for dialogue, restraint, and respect for democratic institutions, stating that Rivers State deserves sustained peace, progress, and accountable leadership.