Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has appealed to residents of the state to remain calm amid the fresh impeachment proceedings initiated against him by the State House of Assembly.
Naijaonpoint reports that Fubara made the call on Sunday during a church service to mark the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, assuring the congregation that the situation in the state would not spiral out of control.
According to him, his decision to remain silent in the face of mounting political distractions was intentional and rooted in his faith in God.
Recalling a statement he made during the New Year banquet at the Government House, the governor said, “Dogs bark when they do not understand,” an apparent reference to criticisms and political pressure surrounding his administration.
The governor spoke briefly before inviting his deputy, Ngozi Odu, who had earlier read the first lesson at the service, to address worshippers.
Deputy Governor Calls For Prayers, Good Conduct
In her remarks, Odu thanked those in attendance and urged residents to conduct themselves responsibly, in line with the sermon delivered by the Dean of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Blessing Eyinda.
She noted that every action would be remembered at one point or another, stressing the need for restraint and good behaviour.
Odu also appealed to Rivers people to continue praying for the administration, describing such spiritual support as “the pillar sustaining the government.”
The appeal for calm came against the backdrop of renewed political tension in the state. Last Thursday, the Rivers State House of Assembly commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy, accusing them of gross misconduct.
Lawmakers also alleged that the governor engaged in spending without legislative approval.
This marks the latest attempt by the Assembly to remove Fubara from office since he assumed power in 2023, following a prolonged political feud with his predecessor and estranged political ally, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
A History Of Failed Impeachment Moves
In October 2023, the Assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against Fubara for gross misconduct. The move was later abandoned after Bola Tinubu intervened in the crisis during a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
By December 2023, lawmakers formally withdrew the impeachment notice after a peace agreement was signed by Fubara and Wike.
However, the truce collapsed months later, with the Assembly stripping the governor of the power to appoint caretaker committees for local government councils.
In March 2025, impeachment proceedings were again initiated against both the governor and his deputy. While the process was ongoing, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, suspending all elected officials for six months.
Fubara returned to office in September 2025 after the emergency rule was lifted, following another peace deal brokered in June between him and Wike.
The latest peace agreement has also since broken down, with Wike accusing the governor of reneging on its terms.
The political tension intensified further after Fubara recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress