KEY POINTS
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Governor Siminalayi Fubara says he remains in office despite impeachment moves by the Rivers assembly.
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A state high court has issued an interim order halting steps linked to the impeachment process.
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Fubara urges residents to ignore social media speculation and assures investors of safety.
On Saturday, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara said that he is still in charge of the state despite the House of Assembly starting impeachment proceedings against him. He said that the political tension will not get in the way of good government or public safety.
Fubara spoke at the end of the 2026 Nigerian Ports Authority Port Harcourt International Polo Tournament, a week-long event that drew players and guests from all over the country. He said that the tournament went off without a hitch, which showed how stable Rivers is and went against what he called “alarmist narratives” that were going around online.
He said that the peaceful end of the tournament sent a clear message that Rivers is still open for business. He also said that his administration’s main job is still to protect lives and property.
“What matters is that I am here and still the governor of Rivers State,” Fubara told the audience. “We will continue to do what we promised the people and ensure that the state remains safe for residents and investors.”
Court order deepens political standoff
This month, the Rivers State House of Assembly started the process of impeaching Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, for gross misconduct. The move quickly made things worse in the state’s political space and got attention from the whole country.
A High Court in Port Harcourt issued an interim order on January 16 that stopped the state’s chief judge from receiving or acting on any impeachment notice against the governor and his deputy. The order was given while more hearings on the case were set to take place.
Even though the ruling was made, the House of Assembly said that Justice Simeon Amadi, the state’s chief judge, had received the impeachment notice. This has led to more debate about whether the court order was followed.
Fubara, on the other hand, spoke calmly and said he would not support any action that could threaten peace or put lives at risk. He told people to stay focused on their daily lives and not get caught up in political uncertainty.
As political leaders in Rivers get ready for a long legal and legislative battle that could change how the state is run in the coming months, the governor’s comments come at a good time.
