The Rivers State House of Assembly has officially suspended its impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, signaling a major breakthrough in the protracted political crisis that has deeply divided the oil-rich state.
The lawmakers formally adopted a motion to halt the impeachment process during a resumed plenary session in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
The legislative retreat is a direct result of the latest intervention by President Bola Tinubu. The President recently brokered a crucial peace meeting in Abuja, bringing together Governor Fubara, his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, alongside the leadership of the state assembly to negotiate an end to the hostilities.
The political standoff reached a boiling point in early January when the assembly, dominated by lawmakers loyal to Wike, initiated the impeachment process during its first sitting of 2026.
The governor and his deputy faced severe allegations of gross misconduct, which included the controversial demolition of the State Assembly complex and accusations of spending state funds without legislative approval.
The process had been temporarily stalled by court injunctions before Thursday’s formal withdrawal. The resolution to drop the impeachment threat appears to be a central component of a broader political settlement.
In what is widely viewed as adherence to the peace terms, Governor Fubara took a drastic step last week by completely dissolving the State Executive Council.
The governor relieved all commissioners and special advisers of their appointments, directing them to hand over to permanent secretaries. This move is expected to pave the way for a reconstituted cabinet that reflects the newly forged political agreements.
Despite the intense pressure and public scrutiny over the past few months, Fubara has maintained a remarkably conciliatory tone.
Speaking at an event in Lagos over the weekend where he received a ‘Man of the Year’ award, the governor explained that his non-aggressive posture throughout the crisis was deliberate and strategic.
“I chose for a lot of reasons to be weak. Weak because I want peace. Weak because I need to also protect those things that are dear not just to me but to our dear nation,” Fubara stated.
He acknowledged the special pain endured by his supporters but assured them that his approach was a necessary virtue to ensure long-term stability.
With the impeachment threat now officially off the table, political observers are optimistic that the executive and legislative arms of the Rivers State government can finally resume collaborative administrative duties and restore functional governance to the state.
