Nigerian professionals in the diaspora have warned that the renewed impeachment moves against the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, is a political project that threatens 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 House of Assembly reflect an abuse of legislative power rooted in a prolonged political struggle between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
The statement, signed by Dr Chukwudi Nnamani, president of the group, and Mr Adewale Ogunsiwaju, its secretary, noted that the impeachment process, which resurfaced despite earlier political interventions and judicial proceedings, risked reducing constitutional mechanisms to 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 reads.
The group claimed that the crisis in Rivers has its roots in the breakdown of the political relationship between Fubara and Wike shortly after the governor assumed office, noting that legislative actions since then have mirrored 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,” the group said.
The diaspora professionals warned that continued impeachment attempts could undermine governance, scare 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.
“Disagreement is not a crime. Independence is not misconduct. A governor asserting constitutional authority should not be treated as a rebel. The threshold for impeachment is deliberately high because the framers of the Constitution understood the danger of legislative overreach,” the group noted.
The statement added that the diaspora community is watching the developments with concern, warning that repeated impeachment plots erode 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 statement said.
The group called on political leaders, the judiciary and stakeholders to prioritise dialogue and constitutional restraint, urging the Rivers assembly to step back from actions that could plunge the state into a deeper crisis.
“The mandate of the people must be respected. Rivers State deserves governance, not perpetual political warfare,” the statement added.
