A civil society organisation, the National Vanguard for Democratic Coalition (NVDC), has thrown its weight behind the renewed impeachment move against Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, urging the State House of Assembly to exhaust all constitutional options to address what it described as the governor’s persistent disregard for the rule of law.
The group’s Coordinator, Mr. Felix White, made the call in a statement on Saturday, warning that any attempt by the Assembly to abandon the impeachment process would amount to a betrayal of democratic principles.
White said this marks the third impeachment attempt against Governor Fubara since he assumed office in 2023, a development he said reflects deepening concerns about the governor’s relationship with the legislature.
He accused the governor of allegedly fuelling the ongoing political crisis in the state through actions he said undermine constitutional order and separation of powers.
According to the CSO, Rivers residents are bearing the brunt of the prolonged political standoff, stressing that peace can only return if the governor adheres strictly to constitutional procedures in his dealings with the House of Assembly.
At the centre of the controversy is Governor Fubara’s alleged failure to present the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the Assembly, which the group described as unprecedented among serving governors in the country.
White said the alleged refusal to submit the budget and to recognise the Assembly as an independent arm of government constitute acts capable of being interpreted as gross misconduct under Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides the legal framework for impeaching a sitting governor.
He further alleged that the governor had failed to meet certain statutory obligations owed to the legislature, describing the actions as a direct affront to democratic governance.
The group urged the Rivers State House of Assembly not to back down from the impeachment process if the governor fails to correct the alleged infractions, insisting that accountability must be enforced to safeguard democracy in the state.
White concluded that the “honourable option” for the governor, should he be unwilling to comply with constitutional provisions, is to step aside to allow for stability and proper governance in Rivers State.
