Rivers State on Edge: Fubara Clashes with Assembly Over Ultimatum to Sack Commissioners

 

 

The political crisis in Rivers State has reached a boiling point, with Governor Siminialayi Fubara and the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly locked in an intensifying power struggle that threatens to plunge the state into deeper chaos.

 

In a bold ultimatum the Amaewhule faction has demanded that Governor Fubara sack all his commissioners within 48 hours and submit a fresh list for screening—an order the state government has flatly rejected as illegitimate and unconstitutional.

 

Governor Fubara, defiant as ever, denied receiving any such directive, further fueling the tension gripping the state. Meanwhile, the state’s Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, has also dismissed rumors of her resignation, calling them malicious and baseless.

 

As the political storm rages on, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has announced August 9, 2025 as the date for local government elections, a move seen by some as an attempt to restore order but by others as a brewing battleground for political dominance.

 

Adding to the drama, Ijaw youths and Niger Delta strongman Asari Dokubo have issued stern warnings against any attempt to impeach Fubara calling such moves a direct assault on the Ijaw people. The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has vowed to resist any effort to hijack and truncate Fubara’s administration, raising fears of potential unrest.

 

Meanwhile, the crisis took a violent turn as gunmen, allegedly linked to a local vigilante group, opened fire on Fubara’s supporters in Elele town, injuring multiple people. In response, the Rivers State Police Command has arrested one suspect but the assailants remain at large.

 

With both political camps refusing to back down, Rivers State now stands at a dangerous crossroads**, with the **threat of violence, political manipulation, and constitutional battles** shaping what could be one of the state’s **most volatile political crises in recent history**.