Political analysts and stakeholders have offered contrasting views on the survival prospects of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara amid renewed impeachment proceedings initiated by the state House of Assembly.
The crisis, rooted in longstanding political tensions and power struggles within the state, escalated recently with lawmakers moving forward on allegations of gross misconduct. Fubara, who recently aligned with the All Progressives Congress (APC), has turned to the courts for relief, securing interim injunctions to halt aspects of the process, including restraining the Chief Judge from constituting an investigative panel.
In exclusive interviews with Daily Post, two prominent voices weighed in on the governor's chances.
Austin Okai, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former PDP candidate, painted a grim picture for Fubara. He described the impeachment drive as clear evidence of betrayal by the APC, asserting that promised protection from the presidency has failed to materialize. “APC has betrayed him. If the presidency is protecting him as some people were making up to him, by now the whole impeachment process should have died down; now he has gone to a local court for survival, his hope is hanging on the judiciary,” Okai stated.
He further accused certain presidency elements of misleading the governor and highlighted Fubara's lack of control over the House of Assembly. Okai suggested the ultimate goal is to restrict Fubara to a single term, adding: “There is a way out. If they don’t impeach him again and he does only one term is that not okay? ... what does he have to offer when compared to what Wike has to offer? It’s a matter of choice at this moment, what does APC want?”
Okai's assessment implies low survival odds, pointing to political calculations favoring stronger figures like former governor Nyesom Wike over Fubara's current standing.
Rivers elder statesman Wenendah Wali adopted a more measured, process-oriented perspective. He cautioned against hasty predictions, noting the unpredictability of Nigerian politics: “You and I know that one plus one is not two in politics in Nigerian politics. So a lot of funny things happen that you can’t explain.”
Wali outlined the constitutional steps required for impeachment—from initial motions and notices to a potential panel constituted by the Chief Judge, followed by votes—stressing that success hinges on the Chief Judge's actions and the panel's findings. “Everything squarely depends on the CJ right now and the panel that he constitutes,” he explained, comparing it to cases like the U.S. impeachment of former President Donald Trump, where impeachment occurred but removal did not.
While acknowledging the Assembly's determination to proceed, Wali emphasized that the outcome remains uncertain until the full constitutional process unfolds, limiting room for pure speculation.
The ongoing saga has seen Fubara maintain he remains firmly in office, with court interventions providing temporary breathing space. As the situation develops, it continues to spotlight deep divisions in Rivers politics, judicial interventions in legislative matters, and the influence of federal-level dynamics on state governance.
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