CNPP, Civil Society Urge Tinubu to Intervene in Rivers Political Crisis

 

By Chinedu Echianu

The conference of Nigeria political parties (CNPP) has condemned ongoing attempt by the Rivers State house of Assembly to impeach Governor Sim Fubara, describing the move as political banditry and urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene.

Addressing a world press conference in Abuja, CNPP in collaboration with the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations  (CNCSOs) say democracy is threatened in the country if Nigerians watch and do nothing while Governor Fubara is impeached.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, ‎the Chairman, Elders Forum, Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations, Baba Abubakar El-Nafaty said the governor has not done anything wrong worthy of impeachment but is rather a victim of the forces of God fatherism spear headed by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

According to him, CNPP and the coalition which is made up of more than 75 civil society organisations are of the view that the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy and national stability.

They insisted that the renewed impeachment threats against Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, were not driven by governance failure or constitutional breaches, but by what they described as a calculated attempt to seize political and financial control of the state through the legislature.

El-Nafaty said the situation in Rivers State had moved beyond local politics and now represented a critical test of Nigeria’s commitment to constitutional democracy, separation of powers and federalism.

He argued that there is no credible allegation of gross misconduct, no paralysis of governance and no popular demand for the governor’s removal.

The CNPP and CNCSOs went ahead to accuse the Rivers State House of Assembly of being “weaponised” for political purposes, warning that allowing such a precedent to stand could encourage similar actions across the country.

They said if governors can be removed at the behest of external political interests, the sovereignty of the electorate and democratic stability would be severely undermined.

The groups also expressed concern over allegations of conditional political settlements, claiming that loyalists of Governor Fubara had alleged that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, imposed conditions on the governor in exchange for halting impeachment moves.

Among the alleged conditions was the immediate ratification of a commissioner list reportedly submitted by the minister.

They further raised questions over financial accountability during the six-month emergency rule previously imposed on Rivers State.

According to figures cited at the briefing, the state allegedly received about ₦254.37 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) between March and August 2025.

The groups claimed that probes announced by the House of Assembly into the use of these funds were merely cosmetic, amid allegations that large sums were shared among lawmakers during the period.

Describing the situation as a “national democratic emergency,” the CNPP and CNCSOs called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene decisively. They urged the President, in his capacity as Head of State and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to halt what they described as legislative anarchy and prevent the crisis from spreading to other states.

Among their demands, the groups called for the immediate termination of all impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara, an independent investigation into the conduct of the Rivers State House of Assembly, a presidential probe into the alleged political settlements, and a comprehensive forensic audit of all funds received and spent during the emergency rule.

They also demanded full accountability for FAAC allocations and internally generated revenue during the period, recognition of Governor Fubara as the legitimate leader of the APC in Rivers State, and the establishment of safeguards to prevent the weaponisation of state legislatures nationwide.

In conclusion, the CNPP and CNCSOs insisted that Governor Fubara must be allowed to govern and Rivers State allowed to develop, stressing that the protection of democratic institutions was essential to national peace and unity.