The ongoing political turmoil in Rivers State has taken a dramatic turn, as Edison Ehie, Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, claims he was offered a N5 billion bribe to facilitate the governor’s impeachment.
Ehie made the revelation during an interview on Sunday Politics, a Channels Television program aired on March 30, 2025. He alleged that the bribery attempt was aimed at persuading him to coordinate the removal of Governor Fubara, but he rejected the offer.
“I have evidence on my phone, dating back to early October 2023, when I was approached with a N5 billion bribe for impeachment. I have since printed and distributed copies of this evidence to ensure my safety,” he stated.
Ehie, who previously served as the factional speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, said the offer came while he was the majority leader of the Assembly.
Meanwhile, Ehie has threatened legal action against former Rivers Head of Service, George Nwaeke, over allegations that Governor Fubara orchestrated the state’s political crisis, collaborated with militants to bomb pipelines, and played a role in the destruction of the state House of Assembly complex in 2023.
Nwaeke further alleged that he witnessed a bag of money being handed over to Ehie for an undisclosed operation. However, Ehie dismissed these claims as false and politically motivated, asserting that he has evidence proving Nwaeke sought financial assistance from him on the same day he resigned.
“I will not engage in unnecessary arguments with Mr. George Nwaeke. My lawyers have already been instructed to file a criminal libel case against him. He must be ready to substantiate his allegations,” Ehie declared.
The political unrest in Rivers State escalated following a fallout between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The power struggle has deepened divisions within the state’s political landscape.
In response, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers on March 18, suspending both the governor and his deputy. The president subsequently appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the state’s sole administrator, tasking him with restoring order.
