Just In: Fubara Jets out, Meets Tinubu in France Amid Impeachment Plot

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has reportedly held a high-level, private meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in France, a development that has intensified political discussions surrounding the escalating impeachment process against the governor.

The meeting occurred at a critical moment, coming shortly after the Rivers State House of Assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara over allegations of gross misconduct.

 

Ejes Gist News reports that multiple political sources independently confirmed the meeting, although neither the Presidency nor the Rivers State Government had issued an official statement as of the time of filing this report.

Meeting Held Amid Heightened Political Tension

According to sources familiar with the development, Governor Fubara and President Tinubu met privately while both leaders were in France. Details of the discussion were not disclosed, but the timing of the engagement has fuelled strong speculation that the worsening political crisis in Rivers State featured prominently in their deliberations.

 

Also Read: Rivers Lawmakers Begin Impeachment Proceedings Against Governor Siminalayi Fubara

The reported meeting comes against the backdrop of deepening political instability in the oil-rich state, where relations between the executive arm and the legislature have deteriorated sharply over recent months.

Impeachment Proceedings Underway

On Thursday, the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, formally announced the commencement of impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu.

Lawmakers cited alleged constitutional violations and acts of gross misconduct as grounds for the impeachment move. However, specific details of the allegations have not been fully made public.

The governor’s camp has repeatedly dismissed the accusations, describing them as politically motivated and lacking factual and legal substance.

Roots of the Rivers Political Crisis

The impeachment move represents the latest escalation in a prolonged political feud that has engulfed Rivers State since Governor Fubara assumed office in May 2023.

The crisis has largely been framed as a power struggle between the governor and political forces widely believed to be loyal to his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Since the fallout, the state has witnessed:

• Legislative standoffs within the House of Assembly
• Multiple court cases challenging legislative and executive actions
• Interventions by national political actors and party leaders
• Heightened political polarisation across the state

These developments have repeatedly raised concerns about governance stability and constitutional order in Rivers State.

Fubara’s Position and Public Messaging

Governor Fubara has consistently maintained that his administration remains focused on governance, peace, and development, despite the political turbulence.

In several public statements, the governor has urged residents of Rivers State to remain calm, stressing that political disagreements should not undermine democratic institutions or disrupt public order.

He has also called on political actors to place the interest of the state above personal or factional ambitions.

Why the Tinubu Meeting Matters

Political analysts view the reported meeting between Governor Fubara and President Tinubu as potentially significant, given the president’s position as Nigeria’s head of state and national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Although Governor Fubara was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), observers note that the president wields considerable influence over national political stability and crisis management, particularly in strategically important states like Rivers.

Rivers State remains:

• A major hub for Nigeria’s oil and gas production
• One of the country’s highest revenue-generating states
• A critical component of national economic and security planning

Any prolonged instability in the state is widely seen as having implications beyond its borders.

Possible Objectives of the France Engagement

Political observers believe the France meeting may have served multiple purposes.

Some analysts suggest Governor Fubara may have used the opportunity to:

• Brief the president directly on the Rivers political crisis
• Present his perspective on the impeachment proceedings
• Seek federal intervention to prevent a constitutional breakdown

Others argue that President Tinubu may be positioning himself as a neutral arbiter, interested primarily in ensuring that constitutional processes are followed and that political tensions do not escalate into violence or institutional collapse.

Reactions Trail the Reported Meeting

The reported engagement has generated mixed reactions across political and civil society circles.

Supporters of Governor Fubara have welcomed the development, describing it as evidence that the governor is engaging constructively with national leadership to safeguard democracy and the electoral mandate given to him by Rivers voters.

Some civil society organisations have also urged the presidency to ensure that impeachment is not weaponised as a tool for political vendetta, calling for strict adherence to constitutional provisions.

Conversely, allies of the Rivers State House of Assembly leadership have downplayed the significance of the meeting, insisting that impeachment is a legislative matter strictly within the constitutional powers of the House.

They argue that no external authority should interfere with what they describe as the lawmakers’ responsibility to hold the executive accountable.

Silence From Official Channels

As of press time, neither the Presidency nor the Rivers State Government had released an official statement confirming the details or outcome of the meeting in France.

However, sources close to the presidency indicated that consultations and behind-the-scenes engagements were ongoing, aimed at de-escalating tensions and exploring political solutions to the crisis.

A Critical Phase for Rivers State

With impeachment proceedings now in motion and political tempers running high, Rivers State appears to have entered a decisive phase.

Attention remains firmly fixed on:

• The next procedural steps by the Rivers State House of Assembly
• Possible legal responses from the governor’s camp
• Any formal intervention or mediation effort from the presidency

Whether the reported meeting in France will translate into dialogue, compromise, or a pause in the impeachment process remains uncertain. What is clear is that the Rivers political crisis has reached a critical juncture, one that could significantly shape the state’s political trajectory and test Nigeria’s democratic institutions.