In a shocking revelation that has deepened the political crisis in Rivers State, Edison Ehie, Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has claimed that he was offered a staggering N5 billion bribe to support the impeachment of his principal. Ehie, who previously served as the factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, made the explosive allegation while addressing recent political developments in the state.
The political turmoil in Rivers State has been escalating since late 2023, when a group of lawmakers, believed to be loyal to former Governor and current Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, initiated moves to impeach Governor Fubara. The crisis led to a split in the State Assembly, with Ehie leading a faction that opposed the impeachment. The situation worsened when part of the Assembly complex was set ablaze, an incident that further polarized the political landscape.
Ehie, in his recent statement, disclosed that he was approached with a financial inducement to betray the governor. “They invited me to impeach the governor and offered me all the money hidden before—N5 billion. I rejected it. Because of my refusal, they conspired and declared me wanted,” he said. Although he did not explicitly name those behind the alleged bribe offer, the statement is widely seen as a direct reference to the political forces aligned against Governor Fubara.
The impeachment plot against Fubara has been a focal point in the ongoing power struggle between the governor and his predecessor, Wike, who has publicly expressed regret for supporting Fubara’s election. The crisis prompted an intervention by President Bola Tinubu, who brokered a peace agreement between the warring factions. However, the truce appears to have collapsed, with fresh tensions emerging in recent weeks.
Ehie’s resistance to the impeachment has reportedly made him a target. Earlier this year, a Federal High Court in Abuja issued an arrest warrant for him over allegations of involvement in the burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly. He has denied the charges, describing them as politically motivated.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has urged pro-Wike lawmakers to proceed with the impeachment, further fueling the crisis. Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Uche Secondus has accused Wike of orchestrating the political instability to maintain control over the state’s finances—an allegation Wike’s camp has dismissed.
As the standoff continues, Ehie has vowed to expose those behind the alleged bribery attempt, promising more revelations in the coming days. The political future of Rivers State remains uncertain, with legal battles over the legitimacy of the impeachment proceedings and Ehie’s arrest warrant still pending.
The latest developments highlight the high-stakes power struggle playing out in one of Nigeria’s most politically volatile states, raising concerns about governance and stability in the oil-rich region. Authorities have yet to respond to Ehie’s bribery allegations, but the claim has already intensified public scrutiny of the deepening crisis.
