The renewed chatter about an alleged impeachment plot against Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara is more than another episode in the state’s familiar cycle of political turbulence. It is a troubling6 demonstration of how legislative power—meant to safeguard democracy—can be weaponized for partisan brinkmanship. At a time when Rivers State requires stability, cohesion, and governance focused on public welfare, the Legislature appears once again drawn toward a dangerous political theatre.
Impeachment is one of the gravest constitutional tools available in a democracy. It is not designed as a bargaining chip in political power struggles, nor as a mechanism for settling intra-party disputes. When wielded recklessly, it threatens not only the executive arm but the entire democratic architecture of the state. The alleged moves against Governor Fubara betray a troubling disregard for due process, public interest, and the gravity of such an action.
Even more concerning is the context. Rivers State has spent months navigating tensions between political blocs, with institutions stretched thin by loyalties, allegiances, and shifting political calculations. Instead of acting as stabilizers, some lawmakers appear intent on escalating conflict. Such behavior undermines public confidence and projects Rivers State as a political battleground rather than an economic and developmental hub.
The people of Rivers State deserve better. They deserve a Legislature that prioritizes oversight over obstruction, collaboration over confrontation, and the Constitution over clandestine political directives. Any attempt to remove a sitting governor must be grounded firmly in clear constitutional breaches—proven, transparent, and indisputably in the public interest. Anything less is legislative abuse.
If the alleged impeachment agenda is politically motivated, then it has already failed the test of legitimacy. The Legislature must remember that its mandate flows from the people, not from political godfathers. The state cannot continue to be held hostage by perennial power struggles that add no value to governance.
What Rivers State needs now is de-escalation, dialogue, and a renewed commitment to institutional stability. Political actors must place the state above personal differences and partisan ambitions. Nigeria’s democracy is too fragile—and Rivers State too strategic—to endure cycles of manufactured crisis.
In the end, governance must triumph over politicking. Anything short of that is a disservice to the people and a dangerous precedent for the future.
Pius Ebong writes from Calabar
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