The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected ongoing impeachment moves against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Oduh, warning that the action could destabilise the state and harm the party’s reputation.
The warning followed the commencement of impeachment proceedings by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly on Thursday. The process was initiated during a plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, where the Majority Leader, Major Jack, read a notice of allegations accusing the governor of gross misconduct.
According to the lawmakers, no fewer than 26 legislators signed the impeachment notice, claiming it complied with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution. Amaewhule announced that the notice would be formally served on Governor Fubara within seven days, in line with legislative procedure. A similar notice of allegations was also read against the deputy governor by the Deputy Majority Leader, Linda Stewart.
Reacting in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju, the Rivers APC said it had taken note of what it described as “unfortunate developments” at the House of Assembly. While affirming the constitutional independence of the legislature and its oversight role, the party stressed that it could not support an impeachment process against a governor elected on the APC platform.
“Our position as of today is that we firmly reject the resort to an impeachment process against our governor and his deputy,” the party stated.
The APC cautioned against internal disputes linked to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spilling over into its own ranks, describing such a scenario as unacceptable. Addressing suggestions that the impeachment threat was tied to budgetary issues, the party recalled that during the period of emergency rule, a ₦1.485 trillion budget was transmitted to the National Assembly by the President in May 2025 and approved by the Senate and House of Representatives in June and July 2025 respectively.
The party noted that the budget was designed to last until August 2026 and argued that the governor was not constitutionally required to present a supplementary budget if satisfied with the existing appropriation. It also cited constitutional provisions allowing a governor to spend up to six months into a new fiscal year.
The APC leadership therefore urged members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to resist what it described as external pressures aimed at destabilising the government.
“We will do everything possible to ensure that the APC-led government in Rivers State is not undermined by internal conflicts,” the statement said, calling on lawmakers to immediately halt the impeachment process.
The party warned that proceeding with the impeachment could damage its image and disrupt governance and development in the state, adding, “Let our state remain a democracy and not a politicocracy.”
The development comes amid the lingering political feud between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, a rift that continues to polarise the state’s political landscape. The APC has previously maintained that if Wike were to join the party, he would fall under the authority of the incumbent governor, as leadership positions are tied to current office holders.
