Political tensions in Rivers State intensified over the weekend following a formal impeachment notice issued against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Ordu, prompting intervention from the Rivers Elders and Leadership Forum.
In a statement released in Port Harcourt on Saturday, the forum’s Acting Chairman, Dr Gabriel Toby, criticised the move by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, describing impeachment as a constitutional mechanism that must be exercised with restraint and in line with due process. The impeachment notice was issued after an emergency plenary session of the Assembly held on Wednesday.
Dr Toby, a former deputy governor of the state, questioned the basis of the allegations cited by the lawmakers, stating that the grounds advanced did not meet the constitutional threshold required to remove an elected governor. He said impeachment proceedings must be supported by clear, verifiable claims that serve the public interest.
He further noted that the governor’s mandate was conferred by the electorate and could only be challenged through procedures expressly provided for in the Constitution. According to him, actions perceived as politically motivated risk undermining democratic institutions and public confidence in governance.
The forum warned that the development could exacerbate existing political divisions and destabilise the state, particularly in light of what it described as lingering effects from a previous period of emergency rule. Dr Toby said Rivers State was still grappling with the political and institutional consequences of that episode.
Calling for restraint, the elders urged members of the Assembly to prioritise stability and governance, and to reconsider actions that could inflame tensions. The forum reaffirmed its commitment to peace, constitutional democracy and unity, while appealing to all stakeholders to act in the broader interest of the state.
