Nyesom Wike, Nigeria’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has once again played the role of a political emperor, declaring, “nothing will happen if Fubara is impeached.” But who anointed him as the ultimate authority over Rivers State? What gives him the right to decide the fate of a democratically elected governor?
This is the same Wike who, in 2018, threatened fire and brimstone when the National Assembly attempted to take over the functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly. He called it a “coup against democracy” and swore that no one would dictate how Rivers should be governed. Fast-forward to 2024, and Wike, now sitting comfortably in Abuja, is the one orchestrating the collapse of the same democracy he once claimed to protect.
Wike has always been notorious for using raw power and intimidation to have his way. In 2015, as governor of Rivers State, he declared himself the “new sheriff in town” and immediately moved to dismantle all structures set up by his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi. He shut down the Rivers State judiciary for over a year in a political standoff, leaving ordinary citizens with no access to justice.
In 2019, Wike was at the center of a violent election in Rivers State, with reports of soldiers and police officers clashing as they tried to influence election outcomes. According to election observers, the governorship election in Rivers that year was marred by unprecedented violence, with multiple casualties. The European Union Election Observer Mission (EU EOM) reported that Rivers was one of the most dangerous places to vote due to politically motivated killings and ballot box snatching.
When he ran for the presidency in 2022 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and lost to Atiku Abubakar, he launched an aggressive campaign against the party’s leadership. Rather than accept defeat, he spearheaded the infamous G-5 rebellion—a group of five PDP governors who sabotaged their own party in the 2023 general elections. His inability to accept any outcome that does not favor him is a hallmark of his brand of politics.
The battle between Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara is not about governance—it is about control. Wike handpicked Fubara as his successor in 2023, believing he would remain a loyal puppet. However, Fubara’s decision to assert his independence has rattled Wike, who is desperate to maintain his stronghold on Rivers politics.
The impeachment plot against Fubara began in late 2023 when 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, loyal to Wike, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to undermine Fubara’s authority. This move was unconstitutional because Section 109(1)(g) of the Nigerian Constitution clearly states that any lawmaker who defects without a division in their original party automatically loses their seat. But Wike, operating with impunity, ensured these lawmakers continued to act against Fubara.
Fubara, in an attempt to regain control, moved to dissolve the state cabinet, including commissioners loyal to Wike. This only escalated the battle, with Wike pushing harder for his removal. But if impeachment is truly about accountability, why didn’t Wike call for impeachment when former governors openly looted state resources? Why is he so invested in removing a governor who is trying to steer Rivers State away from his influence?
The real tragedy is that this is not just about Wike and Fubara—it is about the future of governance in Nigeria. If Wike succeeds in this power grab, it will set a dangerous precedent where political godfathers can remove elected governors at will. It will send a message that elections in Nigeria do not matter because real power lies in the hands of those who control the political machinery.
Wike forgets that the people of Rivers State, not him, elected Fubara. Democracy is built on the will of the people, not the dictates of a single politician drunk on power. The question now is: When will Rivers people say enough is enough?