A pro-democracy and accountability organisation, the National Vanguard for Accountable and Transparent Democracy (NVATD), has blamed Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, for the renewed political instability in the state, alleging that he breached a peace agreement brokered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The group said the governor’s alleged failure to comply with the Tinubu-mediated peace deal directly triggered the fresh impeachment move initiated against him by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
In a statement issued yesterday by its spokesperson, Comrade Wisdom Abah, NVATD argued that the political crisis would not have resurfaced if Governor Fubara had faithfully implemented the peace agreements brokered by President Tinubu in June and September 2025. The agreements were aimed at restoring harmony between the executive and legislative arms of government after months of political tension.
According to the group, the peace deal required the governor to formally recognise the Rivers State House of Assembly, restore its financial and administrative autonomy, settle outstanding entitlements owed to lawmakers, and work collaboratively with the legislature, particularly on budgetary matters.
NVATD accused Governor Fubara of reneging on the core components of the agreement. “By wilfully breaching the peace deal supervised by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has invited political anarchy into Rivers State,” the statement said. “The current impeachment crisis is not accidental but a direct consequence of the governor’s refusal to honour agreements freely entered into before the President and other key stakeholders.”
The group further alleged that the governor’s continued refusal to present the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the House of Assembly represented a major violation of the peace pact. It described the action as an attempt to undermine and de-recognise the legislature, contrary to constitutional provisions and democratic principles.
NVATD also criticised comments attributed to the governor during a BBC interview, in which he allegedly suggested that the House of Assembly derived its authority from him. According to the group, such remarks violated the spirit of the peace agreement and demonstrated a disregard for the principle of separation of powers.
“The governor was explicitly cautioned under the peace framework to avoid actions or statements capable of escalating tensions,” NVATD said. “Unfortunately, he has chosen confrontation, leading to the breakdown of a peace process designed to stabilise Rivers State.”
The group concluded by stating that, having allegedly breached the Tinubu-brokered agreement and lost the confidence of the legislature, Governor Fubara should consider resigning to avert further political instability in the state.
