Rivers Assembly Crisis: How Power Struggles Consumed A Legislative Term
Rivers Assembly Crisis and the Cost of Political Warfare
WHEN Siminalayi Fubara was sworn in as Governor of Rivers State on 29 May 2023, expectations were high that the state would experience a period of consolidation after years of intense political dominance by his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. Instead, within five months of the inauguration, Rivers State descended into one of the most protracted institutional crises in its political history.
By October 2023, the Rivers State House of Assembly had become the epicentre of political conflict. Impeachment threats, factional legislative sittings, court injunctions and counter-injunctions replaced governance. What should have been a legislature focused on lawmaking and oversight became an arena of survival politics, with lawmakers caught between competing power centres.
A Legislature in a High-Stakes Environment
The Rivers State House of Assembly is not a marginal political institution. Rivers is one of Nigeria’s wealthiest states, buoyed by oil revenues and federal allocations. Membership of its legislature is widely regarded as one of the most lucrative and influential state assembly positions in the country.
Yet, rather than leveraging this privilege to consolidate political capital, deliver constituency projects or prepare for future electoral contests, lawmakers spent much of their tenure navigating internal schisms. The crisis effectively paralysed legislative activity and diminished the Assembly’s relevance as a democratic institution.
Escalation to Federal Intervention
The conflict reached its most dramatic point on 18 March 2025, when President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State. In an unprecedented move, the governor, his deputy and the entire House of Assembly were suspended.
While the decision was framed as a constitutional necessity to restore order, it also highlighted the depth of institutional breakdown in the state. A crisis that began as an internal party and legislative dispute had escalated into a matter of national concern, requiring federal intervention.
Although the suspended officials were eventually recalled around September 2025, the return failed to restore stability. Political mistrust lingered, alliances remained fractured, and the Assembly struggled to reassert itself.
The Irony of Wasted Tenure
As the end of the current legislative term approaches, the irony of the situation is striking. Many of the Assembly members have only a few months left in office. Nearly two full years were lost to political warfare, leaving little to show in terms of legislative legacy or constituency impact.
In Nigerian politics, incumbency often provides a strategic advantage for re-election. However, with Governor Fubara now firmly in control of the ruling party’s structure in Rivers State, several lawmakers face uncertainty over their political future. For many, a second term is no longer guaranteed.
Power, Patronage and Political Miscalculation
The crisis also raises broader questions about political mentorship and patronage. Observers argue that if former governor Nyesom Wike had prioritised institutional stability over power struggles, the lawmakers aligned with him might have been shielded from the fallout.
Instead, the confrontation exposed a harsh reality of Nigerian politics: loyalty does not always guarantee protection. Political capital, once freely given, can be withdrawn just as decisively.
Lessons from a Costly Crisis
The Rivers Assembly saga illustrates how political ambition, when unchecked, can hollow out democratic institutions. What should have been four years of influence and opportunity for lawmakers was reduced to a cycle of court battles, suspensions and uncertainty.
Beyond individual careers, the greatest casualty remains governance. Rivers State lost valuable legislative time, while citizens watched a powerful institution consumed by internal conflict.
