Plot to Impeach Fubara Deepens as Ijaw Groups Hit Back at Wike’s Threats

The political crisis in Rivers State has taken a sharp turn as the State House of Assembly moves to investigate Chief Judge Simeon Amadi over alleged age falsification, a development widely seen as a precursor to renewed efforts to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara. At its 135th legislative sitting, the Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, resolved to involve the Department of State Services (DSS) in probing the CJ, following allegations raised by House Leader, Hon. Major Jack. Amaewhule accused Governor Fubara of obstructing legislative oversight by preventing heads of ministries and agencies from appearing before the House.

Justice Amadi, who was screened and appointed under former Governor Nyesom Wike, is believed to have resisted inducements to undermine Fubara—rumored to include N5 billion and luxury properties abroad—drawing political fire in the current crisis.

Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, a former member of the National Assembly, described the Assembly’s actions as an attempt to pressure the judiciary and destabilize Fubara’s administration, suggesting a broader plan to create a crisis conducive to impeachment.

These tensions escalated dramatically following a recent public declaration by Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, that Fubara could be impeached without consequence. His remarks came shortly after a delegation of Niger Delta elders met with President Bola Tinubu, who urged Governor Fubara to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling, further fueling speculation of coordinated political pressure.

Wike’s bold stance and perceived disrespect toward the Ijaw ethnic group have triggered strong reactions across Ijaw institutions. The Supreme Egbesu Assembly (SEA), a traditional religious institution, alongside the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), denounced Wike’s statements and warned of repercussions if Fubara is removed.

Sergeant Werinipre Digifa of the SEA condemned President Tinubu’s silence, blaming him for enabling Wike’s “recklessness” and warning that any attempt to oust Fubara would provoke a response, albeit non-violent, from the Ijaw people. He accused Wike of manipulating the judiciary and warned of a broader fallout for the Yoruba political establishment.

INC President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, said Wike’s ethnic rhetoric was a strategic distraction from his political motives. He warned that Wike’s political dominance is nearing its end, and suggested the former governor is buoyed by support from the presidency, without which he would be politically irrelevant.

Meanwhile, the IYC, in a statement following an emergency meeting in the Eastern Zone, said it would resist any plan to impeach Fubara before the completion of his tenure. The group warned federal authorities that such actions could spark unrest and that the architects of the plot should be prepared to face the consequences.

Another group, Ijaw Matters, accused Wike of betrayal, stating that his disrespect toward the Ijaw people—who once supported his rise to power—will not be forgotten or forgiven. The group predicted a “day of reckoning” for Wike and vowed he would one day beg the Ijaw Nation for mercy, to no avail.

In response to Wike’s claim that the Ijaws are “minority of minorities” in the Niger Delta, the INC fired back, calling the statement ignorant and factually incorrect. The Ijaws, they asserted, are the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria, with over 40 million people, and dominate eight local government areas in Rivers State.

The INC, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Engr. Ezonebi Oyakemeagbegha, urged President Tinubu to rein in Wike and redirect his focus to his ministerial role. The group emphasized its commitment to peace but warned that attempts to divide the ethnic fabric of the Niger Delta would not succeed.