The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has rejected the impeachment proceedings initiated by the Rivers State House of Assembly against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, describing the action as destabilising and unnecessary.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the party’s spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju, said the APC recognised the constitutional independence of the legislature but would not support the use of impeachment against an APC-led government in the state.
The party said it would be untenable to remain silent while what it described as unresolved disputes from the Peoples Democratic Party were allowed to spill into the ruling party and threaten political stability in Rivers State. It cautioned lawmakers, particularly APC members in the Assembly, against yielding to external pressures capable of plunging the state into another round of political turmoil.
Addressing claims that the impeachment threat 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 both chambers. According to the party, the budget is expected to run until August 2026, adding that the governor is within his constitutional rights to decide whether or not to present a supplementary budget.
The party further noted that the constitution permits a six-month spending window into a new fiscal year and warned that the impeachment process could damage the APC’s image and stall development in the state. It stressed that it would take all necessary steps to ensure that the government in Rivers State is not destabilised through internal disagreements.
Although Governor Fubara has yet to publicly comment on the latest development, the Rivers APC called on the House of Assembly to discontinue the impeachment process in the interest of peace and governance.
The party’s position followed the commencement of impeachment proceedings 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 the governor in line with Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution. The lawmakers 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 alleged disobedience of a Supreme Court ruling on the financial autonomy of the legislature. The notice was signed by 26 lawmakers.
Amaewhule said the notice would be forwarded to the governor within seven days. Separately, the Deputy Leader, Linda Stewart, presented a notice of gross misconduct against the deputy governor, citing allegations of reckless spending, obstruction of the Assembly’s constitutional duties and the alleged approval of budgets outside the recognised legislature.
The latest development marks the second attempt to impeach Governor Fubara and his deputy in less than one year. A similar move in March 2025 followed a political fallout between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, which led President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State. The president suspended the governor, his deputy and the Assembly for six months and appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as administrator before Fubara later returned to office after a reconciliation process brokered by the presidency.
In December, Fubara defected from the PDP to the APC, saying full identification with the ruling party was necessary to properly support President Bola Tinubu. His defection came after some members of the Rivers State House of Assembly also moved to the APC.
