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 it recognised the constitutional independence of the legislature but would not support what it described as an attempt to destabilise an APC-led government through impeachment.
“Our position as of today 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 its members in the Assembly against yielding to external pressure capable of plunging the state into political turmoil.
“It will be totally untenable for our party to keep quiet when an obvious hangover from the strife that occurred within the PDP is allowed to resurface in our great party,” Nwauju stated.
Addressing suggestions that the impeachment move was linked to budgetary issues, the APC recalled that during the period of emergency rule, 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. It also noted 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 statement added.
While Governor Fubara has yet to comment on the latest development, the Rivers APC urged the House of Assembly to discontinue the impeachment process, warning that it could damage the party’s image and stall development in the state.
Impeachment proceedings
The APC’s reaction followed the commencement of impeachment proceedings by 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 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. Twenty-six lawmakers signed the notice.
Amaewhule said the notice would be forwarded to the governor within seven days.
The Deputy Leader, Linda Stewart, also presented a separate notice of gross misconduct against the deputy governor, Ngozi Odu. The allegations include reckless and unconstitutional spending, obstruction of the Assembly’s constitutional duties, and allegedly approving budgets outside the recognised legislature.
Rivers political crisis
The development marks the second impeachment attempt against Fubara and Odu in less than a year, following a similar move in March 2025 amid a political fallout between the governor and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
The earlier crisis prompted President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending the governor, his deputy, and the Assembly for six months. Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) was appointed administrator during the period.
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 the earlier movement of some Rivers lawmakers to the ruling party.
