Siminalayi Fubara: Why Four Rivers Lawmakers Who Withdrew From Impeachment Move Made a Sudden U-Turn
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Fresh details have emerged explaining the political calculations behind the sudden reversal by four members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who earlier withdrew from the impeachment move against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The lawmakers, according to sources familiar with the developments, are seeking firm political assurances from the governor ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly guarantees that they would secure return tickets to the Assembly.
Ejes Gist News learnt that the decision to initially distance themselves from the impeachment plot was not driven by any discovery of wrongdoing or lack thereof, but by fears over their political future within the state’s rapidly shifting power structure.
Lawmakers Seek 2027 Return Tickets
A political actor with direct knowledge of the negotiations, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the four lawmakers are focused primarily on securing their political survival.
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“There is nothing like gross misconduct against the governor,” the source said. “What they want is assurance that they will return to the Assembly in the next election cycle.”
According to the source, the lawmakers believe their recent posture towards the governor has weakened their standing and exposed them to political retaliation.
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“With the way they have related with the governor, they are no longer sure of coming back,” the source added. “That is the assurance they are demanding. That is the agreement they are referring to.”
Impeachment Crisis Linked to Party Defection
The source further linked the impeachment crisis to Governor Fubara’s reported political realignment, noting that tensions escalated after the governor’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.
According to the account, the lawmakers believe the governor’s new political platform gives him an advantage ahead of 2027, including the likelihood of securing an automatic ticket.
“This whole problem started when the governor defected to the APC last December,” the source said. “They knew the governor would have his automatic ticket in the APC.”
The concern, the source explained, is that without a negotiated understanding, the lawmakers could be sidelined during party primaries and effectively end their legislative careers.
“If they don’t get that assurance, they would be dead politically,” the source said.
Background to the Rivers Assembly Crisis
The Rivers State House of Assembly has been embroiled in internal divisions over the impeachment attempt against Governor Fubara, with factions emerging over loyalty to the executive and alignment with broader party interests.
The withdrawal and subsequent repositioning of the four lawmakers added a new layer of uncertainty to the process, raising questions about the credibility and motivation behind the impeachment drive.
A report by Vanguard first highlighted the lawmakers’ demand for political guarantees as the key factor behind their shifting stance.
No Evidence of Gross Misconduct
Notably, sources insist that allegations of gross misconduct against the governor lack substance and have not been supported by concrete evidence within the Assembly.
This assertion weakens the legal and moral foundation of the impeachment move, reinforcing views that the crisis is largely rooted in political bargaining rather than constitutional breaches.
As negotiations continue behind closed doors, the Rivers political landscape remains tense, with the impeachment process increasingly seen as a tool for leverage rather than accountability.
