INC, IYC, APC and PDP Factions Call on Rivers Assembly to Halt Fubara Impeachment Moves

Amid escalating political tension in Rivers State, the Ijaw National Congress (INC), the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), and factions of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have urged the Rivers State House of Assembly to abandon ongoing impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Speaking on Thursday, INC President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, said the impeachment attempt was “not a matter of the Ijaw nation but of democracy,” calling on all defenders of democratic values to resist what he described as an unfortunate development. He recalled that the crisis had earlier been resolved following a six-month suspension of the governor and his deputy, warning against reopening settled issues.

Similarly, IYC President, Dr. Alaye Theophilus, advised lawmakers to focus on issues of governance rather than impeachment. He argued that if there were concerns about spending without budgetary approval, such matters should be addressed through oversight rather than removal from office.

“The governor has not done anything wrong,” Theophilus said. “He has initiated development projects across the state. This is a time for governance, not war.” He also accused members of the Assembly of disloyalty to President Bola Tinubu, urging them to channel any allegations directly to him.

Factions of the APC in the state also opposed the impeachment bid. In a statement signed by Darlington Nwauju for the faction led by Chief Emeka Beke, the party acknowledged the independence of the legislature but described the impeachment move as unsustainable.

The statement cited provisions in the 2025 federal budget that allow governors to spend within a six-month window at the beginning of a fiscal year, warning APC lawmakers against actions capable of destabilising the Rivers State government.

Former PDP spokesperson in Rivers State, Hon. Sydney Tambari, also appealed to lawmakers to “sheathe their sword,” noting that Governor Fubara had made significant concessions to maintain peace and describing the impeachment attempt as an ill-timed move at the start of the year.

The impeachment notices, read during Thursday’s plenary by Majority Leader Hon. Major Jack and Deputy Majority Leader Hon. Linda Stewart, listed allegations including failure to present the 2025 budget, unauthorized spending, withholding salaries of Assembly staff, improper screening of appointments and the demolition of the Assembly complex.

The 26 lawmakers backing the notices claimed that both the governor and his deputy lacked the capacity to discharge their constitutional responsibilities. In response, Speaker Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule said the notices would be served on Governor Fubara and his deputy within seven days. The House also resolved to suspend consideration of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the 2026 Appropriation Bill pending investigations.

The latest impeachment move comes against the backdrop of ongoing political realignments in the state. In December 2025, 17 lawmakers defected from the PDP to the APC, followed by Governor Fubara’s own defection, deepening tensions between rival factions.

This is the third attempt to impeach Governor Fubara, following earlier efforts in 2023 and 2025, with political observers closely watching whether the 2026 process will advance.

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