CNPP, Civil Society Sound Alarm: Rivers Political Crisis a Direct Threat to Nigeria’s Democratic Survival
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The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs) have declared that the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State constitutes a grave danger to Nigeria’s national peace, constitutional order, and democratic stability.
At a joint press conference addressed by Baba Abubakar El-Nafaty, Chairman of the Elders Forum of the CNCSOs, the organisations said their action was guided by a “solemn patriotic duty to defend constitutional democracy, protect the mandate of the people of Rivers State, and avert a dangerous political precedent that now threatens national peace and democracy.”
They warned that developments in Rivers State transcend local politics and represent “a critical test of Nigeria’s commitment to constitutional governance, separation of powers, and democratic stability.”
Providing background to the crisis, the CNPP and CNCSOs stressed that the political turmoil did not arise from any failure of governance, incompetence, or constitutional breach by Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Instead, they described the situation as “the product of a calculated political project aimed at seizing control of state power through the manipulation of legislative institutions.”
The groups recalled that Rivers State had previously experienced a six-month emergency rule during which democratic governance was suspended. They noted that following Governor Fubara’s return to office, Nigerians expected reconciliation and stability, but were instead confronted with renewed impeachment threats, which they said pointed to “a deliberate strategy to keep Rivers State in perpetual political uncertainty.”
According to the organisations, there is no constitutional justification for the impeachment moves against the governor. “Governor Siminalayi Fubara has not committed any act that meets the constitutional threshold for impeachment under Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended,” they said, adding that there is “no credible allegation of gross misconduct, no paralysis of governance, and no popular uprising demanding his removal.”
They accused political actors of turning the Rivers State House of Assembly into a tool of intimidation and destabilisation, describing the situation as “the weaponisation of a State House of Assembly as an instrument of political conquest rather than a guardian of democracy.” This, they warned, is “extremely dangerous to Nigeria’s national peace.”
The CNPP and CNCSOs cautioned that allowing the Rivers State scenario to persist would embolden similar actions across the country. They warned that if legislatures are deployed to remove elected governors for political and financial control, Nigeria risks a future where “state assemblies across the country become battlegrounds for elite power struggles,” undermining federalism and democratic stability.
They also raised concerns over allegations of conditional political settlements surrounding the crisis. According to them, loyalists of Governor Fubara have alleged that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, imposed conditions on the governor in exchange for halting impeachment proceedings, including the ratification of a commissioner list allegedly submitted by the minister. The groups said these allegations suggest the crisis is fundamentally about “control of federal allocations, control of internally generated revenue, and control of political power in Rivers State.”
On financial accountability, the organisations cited figures showing that Rivers State received about ₦254.37 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee during the six months of emergency rule between March and August 2025. They expressed concern that the House of Assembly’s probe into the expenditure of the Sole Administrator was allegedly superficial, amid claims that state resources were shared among lawmakers during the period.
Calling the situation a “national democratic emergency,” the CNPP and CNCSOs urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene decisively. They said failure to act could legitimise legislative anarchy and encourage similar crises in other states, with dire consequences for national unity and peace.
They emphasised that “the development in Rivers State constitutes a grave threat to national peace and Nigeria’s still-consolidating democracy,” warning that if state legislatures adopt what they termed the Rivers State template of political brinkmanship, Nigeria’s democratic future would be imperilled.
The organisations demanded the immediate termination of all impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara, independent investigations into the conduct of the Rivers State House of Assembly, a presidential probe into allegations of conditional political settlements, and a comprehensive forensic audit of all funds received and expended during the emergency rule.
In their conclusion, the CNPP and CNCSOs warned that “impeachment without just cause is political banditry” and that the continued weaponisation of legislative institutions poses a direct threat to Nigeria’s democracy and national peace.
They insisted that Governor Siminalayi Fubara must be allowed to govern, Rivers State must be allowed to develop, and Nigeria’s democracy must be protected, declaring emphatically: “Enough is enough. Let the Governor govern. Let Rivers State develop. Let Nigeria’s democracy survive.”
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