Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara
Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has firmly rejected the impeachment proceedings initiated by the Rivers State House of Assembly against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, describing the move as unnecessary and capable of destabilising the state.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the party’s spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju, the APC said while it recognises the constitutional independence of the legislature, it would not support what it called a hasty resort to impeachment 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 read.
The party warned members of the House of Assembly, particularly APC lawmakers, against succumbing to external influences that could plunge Rivers State into another round of political uncertainty.
“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 stated.
Responding to suggestions that the impeachment threat was connected to budgetary disagreements, 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 approved budget is expected to run until August 2026, adding that the governor is under no constitutional obligation to present a supplementary budget.
The APC further reminded lawmakers that the constitution permits a six-month expenditure window into a new fiscal year.
“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,” the statement added.
Although Governor Fubara has yet to publicly react to the impeachment move, the Rivers APC urged the House of Assembly to immediately halt the process, warning that it could damage the party’s image and slow down development efforts in the state.
Impeachment Proceedings Begin
The APC’s reaction followed the commencement of impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy 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, citing Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution.
Jack listed seven allegations of gross misconduct, including the demolition of the Assembly complex, alleged extra-budgetary spending, withholding funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and purported disobedience of a Supreme Court ruling on the financial autonomy of the legislature.
A total of 26 lawmakers signed the notice.
Amaewhule said, “I will ensure that this letter is forwarded to His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State, within seven days.”
Similarly, the Deputy Leader, Linda Stewart, presented a separate notice of alleged gross misconduct against Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu. The allegations include reckless and unconstitutional spending, obstruction of the Assembly’s functions, and the alleged approval of budgets outside the recognised legislature.
Deepening Rivers Political Crisis
The latest development marks the second impeachment attempt against Fubara and Odu within a year. A similar move was made in March 2025 following a political rift between the governor and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
That crisis prompted President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, leading to the suspension of the governor, his deputy, and the House of Assembly for six months. The president subsequently appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as the state’s administrator.
Fubara later returned to office after a reconciliation process brokered by President Tinubu.
In December, the governor defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, explaining his decision by saying, “We cannot support the President if we don’t fully identify with him, not backyard support.”
His defection came after several Rivers lawmakers had earlier joined the ruling party.
