Wike: Niger Delta groups spit fire over move to impeach Fubara

Tensions in Rivers State have intensified as Ijaw groups, including the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), issued a stern warning against the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The groups expressed their determination to defend Fubara’s mandate, cautioning that any attempt to remove him could destabilize the Niger Delta and disrupt oil production in the region.

This warning follows the expiration of the 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly, demanding Fubara resubmit the 2025 budget for approval.

The Assembly’s stance comes after a Supreme Court judgment on Friday, February 28, 2025, reaffirmed its legitimacy, escalating the ongoing political conflict between the governor and lawmakers loyal to his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Additionally, the Supreme Court judgment ordered the suspension of state allocations and nullified the October 5, 2024, local government elections conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

In its first sitting after the ruling on Monday, March 3, 2025, the Assembly directed Fubara to present the budget within 48 hours, before commencing its 12-week recess on Friday, March 7, 2025. The deadline for compliance expires on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

The Assembly also criticized the governor’s directive instructing Heads of Local Government Administration to take over the affairs of the 23 local government headquarters in the state.

Ahead of the Assembly’s plenary session, the INC, IYC, and other groups warned that any move to remove Fubara could trigger a crisis.

INC President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, condemned the impeachment threats, emphasizing that the Ijaw people would not stand by while their first riverine governor in decades was undermined. He criticized the Supreme Court ruling for failing to recognize the historical and political contributions of the Ijaw people in Rivers State governance.

Prof. Okaba warned that undermining Fubara could have dire consequences for national peace and economic stability, particularly in the oil-rich region. “If Governor Fubara’s tenure is truncated by the Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly or any other entity, the INC cannot guarantee the continuation of peace in the Niger Delta or the steady rise in oil production,” he stated.