Don’t take patience of Rivers people for weakness, Fubara can’t be coerced into acting against electorate – ISSJHR warns lawmakers

The International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights (ISSJHR) has strongly condemned the move by the Rivers State House of Assembly to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor Ngozi Nma Odu. In a statement from Port Harcourt, the group’s Chancellor, Omenazu Jackson, characterized the proceedings as a “constitutionally reckless” abuse of power. He cautioned the 26 lawmakers involved that they should not mistake the people’s patience for weakness, warning of a “lawful resistance” from an electorate whose stability is being threatened.

Jackson emphasized that impeachment is intended as a strict constitutional process rather than a political weapon. He reminded the Assembly that Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution requires proven “gross misconduct” and absolute adherence to due process, including fair hearings and a judicial panel investigation. According to the ISSJHR, any deviation from these legal steps would render the entire impeachment effort null, void, and an assault on democratic legitimacy.

The human rights group also invoked the doctrine of the separation of powers, noting that the legislature has no right to dominate or intimidate the executive branch. Jackson argued that no arm of government should be coerced into surrendering its constitutional mandate. He urged both branches to exercise restraint, asserting that harmony between the executive and the legislature is the only sustainable path toward peace and development in Rivers State.

Addressing the governor directly, the ISSJHR insisted that Fubara must not be bullied into taking actions that contradict the interests of the voters who gave him his mandate. The group expressed concern that “crisis merchants” and “political opportunists” are attempting to plunge the state into a new era of instability. They vowed that any attempt to remove the governor outside the clear provisions of the law would be stoutly resisted through all available democratic and legal means.

This intervention by the ISSJHR highlights the growing tension in Rivers State, which has been fractured by a long-standing feud between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. The group’s statement serves as a stern warning to the lawmakers that their actions are being closely monitored by civil society. As the seven-day window for serving the formal notice of allegations closes, the potential for a prolonged legal and social confrontation appears increasingly likely.  

With the 2026 budget approval already stalled by the Assembly, the stakes for the state’s governance have never been higher. The ISSJHR’s call for constitutional order reflects a broader anxiety among residents that political infighting is beginning to eclipse the delivery of public services. The organization concluded by urging all parties to return to the spirit of the law to prevent the total breakdown of order in the oil-rich region.