Senate President Godswill Akpabio has stated that the House of Assembly remains the only institution capable of seriously unsettling a sitting governor.
He made the assertion on Thursday the 8th of January, 2026, while delivering remarks at a public lecture organised in celebration of the 57th birthday of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Akpabio’s comments come amid the ongoing political tension in Rivers State involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the State House of Assembly.
Reports indicate that the Assembly on Thursday, the 8th of January, commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara, further heightening the controversy in the state.
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Speaking on the matter, Akpabio remarked, “For those of you who may not understand politics, we were taught even while in school that the parliament can turn a women into a man and a man into a woman.
“When I was a governor, my greatest fear was my House of Assembly. So because of that, I never traveled anywhere without my Speaker. So anytime I don’t see him for a day, I would send somebody to his house to find out so he could come and have lunch with me then I would use idea to look at his face whether he was happy with me or not. “So, the only place that can hurt a governor is the House of Assembly and no court or democracy can stop that from happening.”
He used his personal experience as a former governor to underline the influence wielded by state legislatures in the political system, particularly in matters affecting the stability of an administration.