Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Henry Owen
Abuja/Port Harcourt, Nigeria — Former Minister of Sports Solomon Dalung has strongly criticised the ongoing impeachment process targeting Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, describing it as a “fatal political miscalculation” that could, in his view, permanently damage the influence of former governor and current Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike. Dalung made the remarks in an interview aired on SYMFONI Television on Sunday, 25 January 2026, in which he argued that the impeachment effort — widely perceived as being driven by Wike and his political allies — has backfired and undermined the minister’s strategic standing.
Dalung suggested that the impeachment initiative against Fubara has not weakened the governor but instead exposed deep fractures within Wike’s political camp and triggered public backlash and isolation. He warned that the push could be seen as the “nailing of [Wike’s] political casket,” asserting that the fallout might ultimately eclipse the former governor’s legacy in Nigeria’s political discourse.
“This impeachment move will be the nailing of his political casket, and it will be lowered. You may even look for his name in the footnotes of political history and even Google will not remember him,” Dalung declared, framing the impeachment strategy as a self-inflicted blow rather than a sound tactical decision.
His comments reflect growing tensions in Rivers State’s protracted political crisis, which stems from a deepening rift between Fubara and his predecessor and erstwhile benefactor, Wike. The conflict escalated after Fubara assumed office following the 2023 Rivers State gubernatorial election, a contest that saw Wike hand over power to his chosen successor but later devolve into bitter disputes over governance, influence and political control.
The impeachment move itself has been mired in controversy. Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, issued impeachment notices against Governor Fubara and his deputy over alleged misconduct. The process has been described by critics as politically motivated rather than grounded in substantiated constitutional breaches, drawing concerns about legislative independence and democratic norms in the state.
Legal setbacks have complicated the impeachment bid, with courts, including a high court, pausing proceedings due to pending injunctions that prevent the formation of the judicial panel required to consider the allegations — a constitutional prerequisite for impeachment. These legal roadblocks have stalled the process and added to the perception that it lacks clear momentum.
Dalung’s intervention underscores broader anxieties among political observers that the Rivers saga could have repercussions beyond local governance, influencing political allegiances and alliances at the national level. Some analysts contend that the embroiled impeachment, and its association with Wike’s political machinery, could widen divides within both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and among opposition coalitions, especially as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
The former minister also argued that the impeachment campaign has inadvertently strengthened Fubara’s profile by rallying grassroots sympathy and drawing attention to questions about due process and constitutionalism in state politics. In his view, rather than diminishing Fubara’s leadership, the controversy has highlighted the governor’s resilience in the face of factional pressure.
Wike, a key figure in the crisis as both a former governor and current FCT Minister, has previously articulated views dismissing dire consequences from impeachment threats, suggesting legislative action is constitutionally permissible if grounded in alleged misconduct. However, Wike’s direct role in the current impeachment bid remains disputed, with critics charging that his influence over lawmakers has blurred the lines between legislative autonomy and executive intervention.
As the impeachment process continues to unfold amid legal, political and public scrutiny, Dalung’s stark assessment adds a new dimension to the debate, framing the crisis not just in terms of procedural legality but also as a pivotal moment in the broader strategic fortunes of key political actors in Nigeria’s complex political landscape.
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