The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has 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 destabilizing and unnecessary.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the party’s spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju, the APC said while it recognized the constitutional independence of the legislature, it would not support what it described as a 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 said.
The party cautioned lawmakers, particularly APC members in the Assembly, against succumbing to external pressures capable of plunging the state into political turmoil. It warned that internal disputes, especially those traced to past crises within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), should not be allowed to resurface within the ruling party.
“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.
Responding to claims that the impeachment threat was linked to budgetary issues, the APC recalled that during the period of emergency rule, a N1.485 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. The party noted that the budget is expected to run until August 2026.
According to the APC, the governor is not legally compelled to present a supplementary budget, adding that the constitution allows for 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 destabilized through fratricidal disagreements,” the statement added.
Although Governor Fubara has yet to publicly comment on the impeachment move, the Rivers APC urged the Assembly to discontinue the process, warning that it could damage the party’s image and stall development in the state.
The party’s reaction followed the formal commencement of impeachment proceedings by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly on Thursday. During plenary presided over by the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, read a notice of allegations against Governor Fubara in line with Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution.
Jack outlined seven allegations of gross misconduct, including the demolition of the Assembly complex, alleged extra-budgetary spending, withholding of funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and purported disobedience of a Supreme Court ruling on the financial autonomy of the legislature.
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 gross misconduct against Deputy Governor Odu, citing allegations such as reckless and unconstitutional spending, obstruction of the Assembly’s functions, and alleged approval of budgets outside the recognized legislature.
The development marks the second impeachment attempt against Fubara and Odu in less than one year. A similar move in March 2025 followed a political rift between the governor and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, which prompted President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State.
At the time, Tinubu suspended the governor, his deputy and the Assembly for six months and appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as administrator. Fubara later returned to office after a reconciliation process brokered by the president.
In December, Fubara defected from the PDP to the APC, stating that full support for President Tinubu required full identification with the ruling party. His defection came after several Rivers lawmakers also moved to the APC.
