The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) has rejected the impeachment process initiated by the Rivers
State House of Assembly against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy,
Ngozi Odu, describing the move as destabilising and unnecessary.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the
party’s spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju, the APC said while it respects the
constitutional independence of the legislature, it would not support
impeachment proceedings against an APC-led government.
“Our position as at today on this matter is that we
solemnly reject the resort to an impeachment process against our Governor and
his deputy,” the statement said.
The party warned lawmakers—particularly APC members in
the Assembly—against yielding to external pressure that could plunge the state
into political turmoil.
“It will be totally untenable for our party to keep
quiet when an obvious hangover from strifes that occurred within the PDP are
allowed to resurface in our great party,” Nwauju said.
Addressing claims that the impeachment threat was
linked to budgetary issues, the APC recalled that during the period of
emergency rule in the state, a ?1.485 trillion budget was transmitted to the
National Assembly in May 2025 and subsequently approved by the Senate on June
25 and the House of Representatives on July 22, 2025.
According to the party, the budget is expected to run
until August 2026, adding that the governor is under no constitutional
obligation to present a supplementary budget.
“The constitution allows a six-month spending window
into a new fiscal year,” the statement noted.
The APC stressed that it would take all necessary
steps to prevent what it described as internal disagreements from destabilising
the government in Rivers State.
“Let it be known that our party will do everything
possible to ensure that the Government of Rivers State, which is an APC
government, is not destabilised through fratricidal disagreements,” it added.
The party called on the Rivers State House of Assembly
to discontinue the impeachment process, warning that it could damage the APC’s
image and stall development in the state.
Impeachment Proceedings
The APC’s reaction followed the commencement of
impeachment proceedings by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly on
Thursday.
During plenary presided over by Speaker Martins
Amaewhule, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, read a notice of allegations
against Governor Fubara, invoking Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution.
Jack outlined seven allegations of gross misconduct,
including the demolition of the Assembly complex, extra-budgetary spending,
withholding funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and alleged
disobedience of a Supreme Court ruling on the financial autonomy of the House.
A total of 26 lawmakers signed the notice.
Amaewhule said the notice would be forwarded to the
governor within seven days.
Separately, the Deputy Leader of the House, Linda
Stewart, presented a notice of allegations against Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu,
citing claims of reckless and unconstitutional spending, obstruction of
legislative duties, and approval of budgets outside the recognised Assembly.
Background to the Crisis
The latest development marks the second impeachment
attempt against Governor Fubara and his deputy in less than one year.
In March 2025, a similar political crisis—stemming
from a fallout between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike—prompted
President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The president suspended the governor, his deputy, and
the State Assembly for six months and appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas
(rtd) as sole administrator.
Fubara later returned to office following a
reconciliation process brokered by the president.
In December, the governor defected from the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, saying, “We cannot support the President
if we don’t fully identify with him, not backyard support.”
His defection followed earlier movements of some
Rivers State lawmakers to the ruling party.
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