Annkio Briggs Slams Assembly Over Impeachment Plot Against Governor Fubara
The political landscape of Rivers State has once again been set ablaze following the heated remarks of renowned Niger Delta rights activist, Annkio Briggs. As the impeachment saga involving the Rivers State House of Assembly and Governor Siminalayi Fubara reaches a fever pitch, Briggs has made it clear that the ultimate power lies with the voters, not the lawmakers.
In a recent interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Briggs delivered a stern warning to the legislative arm, the APC-led Federal Government, and political stakeholders, asserting that the people of Rivers State will not be bullied into accepting a leadership change they did not ask for.
The People’s Mandate vs. Legislative Power
The core of the current crisis stems from a renewed move by the Rivers State House of Assembly to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara. However, Annkio Briggs argues that the Assembly members are overstepping their constitutional boundaries by ignoring the will of the electorate.
“What I’m concerned about is that the people of Rivers State have the final say, and not the members of the State House of Assembly,” Briggs stated. She emphasized that while the Assembly has the constitutional right to perform oversight, they do not have the moral or political authority to dictate the state’s future against the wishes of the masses.
According to her, there is a fundamental disconnect between the lawmakers and the people they represent. She noted that the power exercised by the Assembly is a borrowed one, which originates from the citizens.
Why Annkio Briggs is Backing Governor Fubara
The activist did not hold back in her support for Governor Fubara, suggesting that the Governor’s performance has earned him the loyalty of the Rivers people. She went as far as hinting that the citizens are ready to see Fubara continue his leadership well beyond the 2027 general elections.
The pro-Fubara sentiment in Rivers State has grown as many view the impeachment attempts as a politically motivated “witch-hunt” orchestrated by external influences and internal rivals. For Briggs, the stability of Rivers State is paramount, and removing a sitting governor against the popular will could lead to significant unrest in the Niger Delta region.
A Warning to the APC and the Federal Government
One of the most striking parts of Briggs’ interview was her direct address to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC). Following reports of Governor Fubara’s alignment with the APC—a party to which the majority of the current Assembly members also belong—Briggs cautioned the party to tread carefully.
With the next election cycle approaching in 2027, Briggs warned that the APC’s handling of the Rivers crisis could determine its fate in the entire Niger Delta region.
“The APC ought to be very careful. It has to be very careful how it is going about winning this election, how it is going about securing the votes of Niger Delta as a whole, and securing the votes of Rivers people,” she warned.
The Growing Tension in the Rivers Assembly
The impeachment notice served to Governor Fubara has divided the state into various camps. While the Assembly remains adamant that they have the legal right to proceed, several legal experts and civil society organizations have raised concerns about the process.
The Chief Judge of Rivers State has reportedly received the impeachment notice, but critics argue that the Assembly must prove that the service was done according to the rule of law. Prominent figures like Aisha Yesufu and former local government chairmen have also condemned the moves, describing them as an attempt to “rest the state in the hands of political godfathers.”
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