Rivers State Political Crisis: Chief of Staff Alleges N5 Billion Bribe to Impeach Governor Fubara
The political crisis in Rivers State has taken a new twist as Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to the embattled Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has alleged that he was offered a whopping N5 billion to coordinate the impeachment of his principal.
Ehie made the revelation during an interview on Channels Television’s political program, Sunday Politics, where he claimed to have concrete evidence to support his allegations. According to him, the bribe offer was made in early October 2023, with the intention of orchestrating the removal of Governor Fubara from office.
“I can also open my phone to show you. In the beginning of October 2023, when they approached me with a bribe of N5 billion. It is here in my phone,” Ehie stated during the live broadcast.
He further disclosed that he had taken proactive measures to ensure the evidence was preserved and widely circulated in case of any threats to his life.
“It was for impeachment. It’s here. I have it, and I have printed it and distributed it, in case, in their evil imagination, they decide to attack me. I already have a son and a brother,” he added, hinting at concerns for his personal safety amid the ongoing political turmoil.
Rivers State has been engulfed in a fierce political battle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The crisis, which began shortly after Fubara assumed office, has seen multiple political maneuverings, including attempts by the state legislature to impeach the governor.
Ehie, a former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and a close ally of Fubara, had previously been vocal about resisting efforts to unseat the governor. His latest allegations suggest that the impeachment plot extended beyond legislative tactics and included financial inducements aimed at key political figures.
The revelation has sent shockwaves through the state’s political landscape, with many awaiting a response from those accused of orchestrating the alleged bribery attempt. There has been no immediate reaction from the opposing political camp, but analysts suggest the claim could further deepen the crisis in the state.
Legal and political experts are now calling for a thorough investigation into the allegations, as bribery in political processes is a serious offense under Nigerian law. If proven, it could expose the extent of corruption in the state’s political machinery and further polarize an already divided ruling class.
Meanwhile, civil society groups and political observers are urging security agencies to ensure Ehie’s safety, given his claims that his life could be in danger. The unfolding drama in Rivers State remains a critical test for governance, democracy, and the rule of law in Nigeria.
As the situation develops, all eyes will be on the state’s political actors and whether any legal or political consequences will follow Ehie’s explosive allegations.
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