Rivers APC Rejects Impeachment Move Against Governor Fubara, Warns of Political Destabilisation

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, calling the move “destabilising and unnecessary.”

In a statement signed on Thursday by the party’s spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju, the APC acknowledged the constitutional autonomy of the legislature but insisted it would not support any attempt to unseat an APC-led government.

“Our position as at today is that we solemnly reject the resort to an impeachment process against our Governor and his deputy,” the statement read.

The party cautioned its lawmakers in the Assembly against yielding to external political pressures, warning that such actions could plunge the state into fresh crisis.

“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.

Budget Issues Not a Justification — APC

Responding to claims that the impeachment threat stemmed from budgetary disputes, the APC recalled that during the period of emergency rule in 2025, a ₦1.485 trillion budget was transmitted to the National Assembly and subsequently approved — by the Senate on June 25 and the House of Representatives on July 22.

The party noted that the approved budget remains valid until August 2026, meaning the governor is under no constitutional compulsion to present a supplementary budget.

It further reminded lawmakers that the Constitution permits a six-month spending 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 party vowed.

Assembly Presses Forward With Impeachment Allegations

On Thursday, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly commenced impeachment proceedings against Fubara and Odu.

During plenary presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, read a notice of allegations of gross misconduct against the governor, in accordance with Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution.

Jack outlined seven allegations, including:

Demolition of the Assembly complex

Extra-budgetary expenditure

Withholding of funds for the Assembly Service Commission

Disobedience of a Supreme Court ruling on legislative financial autonomy

A total of 26 lawmakers endorsed the notice.

Speaker Amaewhule said the Assembly would forward the notice to the governor within the constitutionally required seven days.

A separate notice against Deputy Governor Odu, presented by Deputy Leader Linda Stewart, cited allegations of reckless spending, obstruction of legislative duties, and approving budgets not passed by the recognised Assembly.

Second Impeachment Attempt in Under One Year

This marks the second impeachment attempt against Fubara and Odu within a year, following a similar move in March 2025 amid tensions between the governor and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.

The crisis prompted President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency, suspending the governor, his deputy, and the Assembly for six months and appointing Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as administrator.

Fubara returned to office after a presidentially mediated reconciliation process.

In December 2025, the governor defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, saying full alignment with President Tinubu was necessary for development.

His defection followed similar moves by several Rivers lawmakers who earlier crossed over to the ruling party.