Diaspora Professionals Warn Against Impeachment Threats on Fubara, Deputy

Nigerian professionals in the diaspora have warned that renewed impeachment moves against Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, amount to a political project capable of undermining democratic order in the oil-rich state.

In an e-statement issued on Monday, the Nigerian Diaspora Professionals for Democratic Stability (NDPDS) said the impeachment moves by the Rivers State House of Assembly reflect an abuse of legislative powers rooted in a prolonged political struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.

The statement, signed by the group’s President, Dr. Chukwudi Nnamani, and Secretary, Mr. Adewale Ogunsiwaju, noted that the impeachment process, which has resurfaced despite earlier political interventions and judicial proceedings, risks turning constitutional mechanisms into instruments of political vendetta.

“The impeachment threats against Governor Fubara have become cyclical, predictable and politically motivated. This is no longer about oversight or constitutional accountability; it is about who controls Rivers State’s political structure and resources. A democracy cannot function when impeachment is weaponised as a tool of supremacy rather than a last-resort constitutional remedy,” the statement read.

The group traced the crisis in Rivers State to the breakdown of the political relationship between Fubara and Wike shortly after the governor assumed office, alleging that legislative actions since then have largely reflected factional loyalties rather than public interest.

“It is impossible to ignore the context. The House of Assembly has been deeply polarised, with legislative actions reflecting allegiance to external political authority rather than the electorate. No democracy should tolerate a situation where a sitting governor is subjected to perpetual threats of removal for refusing to submit to political godfathers,” it stated.

The diaspora professionals warned that sustained impeachment attempts could weaken governance, scare away investors and deepen institutional instability in a state critical to Nigeria’s economic survival.

“Rivers State is not a playground for political brinkmanship. It is a strategic economic nerve centre, and governance cannot be held hostage to unresolved elite power struggles. Every impeachment threat sends a negative signal to investors, development partners and citizens who expect stability, not chaos,” the statement added.

The group further argued that asserting constitutional authority should not be misconstrued as misconduct, stressing that the threshold for impeachment is deliberately high to prevent legislative overreach.

“Disagreement is not a crime. Independence is not misconduct. A governor asserting constitutional authority should not be treated as a rebel,” it said.

The NDPDS noted that the diaspora community is closely monitoring developments in Rivers State, warning that repeated impeachment plots erode public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

“When impeachment becomes routine rather than exceptional, democracy is weakened. What is happening in Rivers should worry every Nigerian, because it sets a precedent where electoral mandates can be endlessly undermined through legislative pressure,” the group warned.

It called on political leaders, the judiciary and other stakeholders to embrace dialogue and constitutional restraint, urging the Rivers State House of Assembly to refrain from actions that could plunge the state into deeper political crisis.

“The mandate of the people must be respected. Rivers State deserves governance, not perpetual political warfare,” the statement concluded.