Impeachment showdown: APC, Rivers Assembly clash over Fubara, deputy

Political tension in Rivers State escalated yesterday as the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Rivers State House of Assembly locked horns over the commencement of impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, over allegations of gross misconduct and misappropriation of funds.

The crisis peaked after lawmakers reconvened from a recess scheduled to end on January 26 to initiate the impeachment process, before adjourning proceedings to January 15— a move that stirred intense political controversy across the state.

The Rivers APC, Ijaw National Congress (INC) and Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) were among several groups that outrightly rejected the impeachment move, urging legislators to resist alleged pressure to destabilise the Fubara administration.

In particular, the APC— which Governor Fubara recently joined after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)— argued that the governor committed no infraction by not presenting a 2026 budget. The party maintained that the budget earlier passed by the National Assembly during the six-month emergency rule remains valid until August 2026.

Meanwhile, the PDP appeared divided. While a faction loyal to former governor and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, endorsed the impeachment process, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) adopted a cautious, wait-and-see posture. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) also said it was monitoring developments before taking a clear position.

Why Fubara, Odu must go — Assembly

Explaining the impeachment move, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, said the action was based on the alleged failure of Governor Fubara and his deputy to present the state’s budget.

Lawmakers accused the governor of sidelining the Assembly in the preparation of appropriation bills, describing the actions as impeachable offences.

The impeachment motion was moved by Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol and seconded by Silvernus Nwankwo.

Citing Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Majority Leader, Major Jack, outlined seven allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara. These included the demolition of the Assembly complex, extra-budgetary expenditures, withholding funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and failure to comply with a Supreme Court judgment on legislative financial autonomy.

After the notice against the governor was read, the Deputy Leader, Linda Stewart, also presented a notice of gross misconduct against Deputy Governor Prof. Odu.

The accusations against Odu include alleged reckless and unconstitutional spending of public funds; obstructing the Assembly from performing its constitutional duties; facilitating the occupation of offices by unauthorised persons; seeking budgetary approval from groups other than the legitimate House of Assembly; and seizing salaries and allowances due to lawmakers and the Assembly Service Commission.

‘Fubara is a mistake’ — Speaker

Reacting to the motion, Speaker Amaewhule said the allegations largely revolved around budget presentation and spending outside the appropriation law.

“It is important that the process we are about to go through aligns with constitutional provisions. The misconducts highlighted have a lot to do with the presentation of budget and spending outside the appropriation law,” he said.

Amaewhule accused the governor of deliberately refusing to present a budget, saying:
“In any case, the governor does not even want to present any budget, because if he wanted to, he would have brought it all this while.”

Describing the governor’s tenure as disastrous, Amaewhule declared:
“Siminalayi Fubara is a mistake. He is a mistake. Rivers has never had it this bad. In the entire Nigeria, Siminalayi Fubara and Prof. Odu are the only two people in office at the sub-national level that are yet to present the 2026 appropriation bill.”

He added that the situation was unprecedented even beyond Nigeria, insisting that nothing prevented the governor from presenting a budget.

The Speaker further alleged that the governor abandoned an approved budget and awarded contracts outside the appropriation law, lamenting the state of public infrastructure, education, healthcare and youth employment.

“Our schools are not functioning the way they should. Rivers people are suffering. Our roads are bad. Our hospitals and health centres are not fully functional,” he said.

Amaewhule accused Fubara of undermining democracy and the constitution, declaring:
“Enough is enough. Let the law take its course.”

He said President Bola Tinubu had made repeated efforts to reconcile with the governor, but claimed those efforts were rebuffed.

Following deliberations, Amaewhule ruled that the House would suspend consideration of the 2026 appropriation bill pending the conclusion of investigations into the allegations.

Proceedings were adjourned to January 15. No fewer than 26 of the 32 lawmakers signed the impeachment notice, which the Speaker said would be served on the governor within seven days, formally triggering the impeachment process.

APC rejects impeachment move

Rejecting the impeachment proceedings, the Rivers APC urged lawmakers to resist external pressure aimed at destabilising the Fubara administration.

In a statement, factional APC spokesman, Darlington Nwauju, described the move as unfortunate and warned against importing PDP’s internal crisis into the APC.

“Our position as of today is that we solemnly reject the resort to an impeachment process against our governor and his deputy,” Nwauju said.

He stressed that during the emergency rule, a budget transmitted to the National Assembly by the President in May 2025 was duly passed and remains valid.

According to him, the N1.485 trillion budget approved by the Senate on June 25, 2025, and the House of Representatives on July 22, 2025, is expected to run until August 2026.

“The constitution also allows a six-month spending window into the new fiscal year,” he added, urging lawmakers— especially APC members— to discontinue the impeachment process.

Rivers APC faction concurs

Similarly, the APC faction led by Chief Emeka Beke also rejected the impeachment move, describing it as unacceptable and warning against resurrecting PDP-related disputes within the APC.

PDP divided as Wike’s camp backs Assembly

The PDP was sharply split over the issue. A faction aligned with Wike endorsed the impeachment, framing it as a constitutional process rather than a political one.

Speaking in Abuja, Jungudo Haruna, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP National Caretaker Committee backed by Wike, said:
“The issues of impeachment are clearly not issues of party politics. There are allegations that the governor must go and clear himself.”

He urged Fubara to submit himself to constitutional procedures, adding that lawmakers deserved commendation if due process was followed.

In contrast, the PDP NWC led by Kabiru Turaki declined to comment. Its spokesman, Ini Ememobong, said the party was “monitoring the situation.”

INC, IYC urge Assembly to drop move

The Ijaw National Congress (INC) and Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) appealed to the Assembly to halt the impeachment process in the interest of peace.

INC President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, described the development as a threat to democracy, alleging a “state capture by one individual.”

“This is not about Ijaw Nation; it is about democracy,” Okaba said.

IYC President, Dr. Alaye Theophilus, urged lawmakers to allow Fubara to complete his tenure, insisting that the governor had not committed any impeachable offence.

“This is time for governance, not war,” he said, adding that Rivers people were the ultimate losers in the crisis.

ADC monitoring situation

The ADC said it was closely observing developments. Its National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, stated:
“We’re studying political developments in Rivers and will take an informed position after assessment.”

It will be recalled that on December 5, 2025, about 17 Rivers lawmakers defected from the PDP to the APC, followed by Governor Fubara’s defection on December 9.

The impeachment move has shocked many observers who believed the governor’s alignment with the ruling APC would shield him from such threats.

This marks the third impeachment attempt against Fubara— after similar efforts in 2023 and 2025— raising questions over whether the latest move will succeed.

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