PORT HARCOURT – Political tensions in Rivers State have reached a boiling point as prominent Ijaw groups, including the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), issued a stern warning against any move to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The groups cautioned that attempts to remove the governor could destabilize the Niger Delta, disrupt crude oil production, and spark widespread unrest. Their warning follows the expiration of a 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly for Fubara to resubmit the 2025 budget for approval.
The Assembly’s demand for budget resubmission comes on the heels of a Supreme Court judgment on February 28, 2025, which reaffirmed its legitimacy. The ruling has intensified the political standoff between the governor and lawmakers loyal to his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The apex court also ordered the withholding of Rivers State’s federal allocations and nullified the local government elections conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) on October 5, 2024. With the Assembly set to begin a 12-week recess on March 7, the ultimatum given to the governor is set to expire today, March 5.
In a strongly worded statement, INC President Prof. Benjamin Okaba decried the impeachment threats, warning that the Ijaw people would not sit idly by as their first riverine governor in decades is undermined.
“If Governor Fubara’s tenure is truncated by the Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly or any other group, the INC cannot guarantee the sustenance of peace in the Niger Delta, nor the continued rise in oil production,” Okaba declared.
He emphasized that the Ijaw people have made significant political sacrifices for the governance of Rivers State over the years but continue to face exclusion. He further urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene, warning that any attempt to sideline the Ijaw people could have severe national consequences.
Similarly, IYC President Worldwide, Dr. Theophilus Alaye, described the Supreme Court’s nullification of the Rivers LG elections as “provocative and laughable,” claiming that other states had conducted similar polls using the same 2023 INEC voter register.
He also accused Wike of using his influence to manipulate the judiciary, adding, “The verdict has confirmed our suspicion that the apex court is working hand in glove with him to destabilize Rivers State.”
The IYC, Eastern Zone, echoed similar sentiments, warning that any move to remove Fubara could lead to economic instability. In a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, the group vowed to resist any attempt to subvert the governor’s mandate.
“The purported 48-hour ultimatum to the governor is a clear indication of an orchestrated effort to create chaos and possibly impeach him. This is not only an attack on our leadership but an affront to the will of the Rivers people,” the statement read.
The group further warned that any suspension of Rivers State’s federal allocation could impact workers and developmental projects. “If Rivers State is starved of its economic rights because of one man’s ambition, we will also starve the economy of Nigeria,” the IYC warned.
When contacted about potential threats to oil installations, the Rivers State Police Command declined to comment, referring inquiries to the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, who was unavailable at the time.
Meanwhile, Nigerian Navy spokesperson, Cmdr A. Adams-Aliu, dismissed concerns over potential disruptions, stating, “All of the above is speculation. The Nigerian Navy will continue to discharge its constitutional responsibilities.”
Similarly, the Nigerian Army, through Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, described the situation as a political matter.
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling, RSIEC Chairman, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.), announced plans to release a new timetable for local government elections. The commission is set to hold a stakeholders’ meeting today, March 5, to discuss the upcoming election process.
Amidst the crisis, local government chairmen sacked in 2015 are demanding to reclaim their offices, citing a February 28, 2025, Court of Appeal ruling that overturned their removal.
Benson Imie, former chairman of Andoni LG, insisted that they remain the rightful leaders of the state’s 23 local government areas. “The Supreme Court’s decision created vacancies in the councils, and as judicially recognized chairmen, we are the ones to occupy those positions,” he said.
Another ex-chairman, Reginald Ukwoma of Etche LG, dismissed the need for another swearing-in, stating, “We were sworn in before our removal in 2015; there is no need for another oath of office.”
In response to threats of unrest, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, urged stakeholders to pursue peaceful negotiations rather than violence.
“Now is the time for intellectual engagement, not agitation with guns and machetes,” he said.
However, some traditional rulers dismissed the peace initiative as a “jamboree,” arguing that conflict in the region stems from deep-rooted marginalization and political exclusion.
With the Rivers Assembly expected to make a pronouncement today, the political landscape remains volatile. As the deadline for Fubara’s budget submission expires, all eyes remain on Port Harcourt, where the fate of the governor—and the stability of the Niger Delta—hangs in the balance.
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