Lawmakers initiate impeachment proceedings against Governor and Deputy
A major political crisis has erupted in Rivers State as the House of Assembly and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have clashed over the initiation of impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu.
On Thursday, January 8, 2026, the lawmakers cut short their recess to convene a high-stakes plenary session where they reeled out several allegations of gross misconduct. The move has plunged the state into fresh turmoil, occurring just months after Fubara’s strategic defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
Speaker Martin Amaewhule, who presided over the session, accused the Governor and his Deputy of failing to present the 2026 appropriation bill, describing the delay as a “sad commentary for our democracy.” The Assembly alleged that Fubara has been spending public funds recklessly without legislative approval and awarding contracts outside the legal framework. “Siminalayi Fubara is a mistake,” Amaewhule declared, asserting that the state has “never had it this bad” under his administration.
The impeachment notice, signed by 26 of the 32 lawmakers, also included charges related to the demolition of the Assembly Complex and the withholding of funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission. The House has given the Governor and his Deputy seven days to respond to the allegations before the process enters its next phase. Proceedings have been adjourned until January 15, leaving the state in a state of high-alert and political uncertainty.
APC leadership rejects impeachment move against its own Governor
In a surprising twist, the Rivers State chapter of the APC has officially rejected the impeachment proceedings, describing the move as a destabilizing force. The party’s spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju, urged the lawmakers to resist external pressures and focus on the continuity of governance. He argued that since Fubara is now an APC governor, it is “untenable” for the party to remain silent while internal PDP strifes from the past are imported into their great party.
The APC leadership clarified that the Governor had not violated any law regarding the budget. They explained that during the six months of emergency rule in 2025, the National Assembly passed a ₦1.485 trillion budget for the state that remains valid until August 2026. Nwauju emphasized that the constitution allows a governor a six-month window to operate into a new fiscal year even without a new appropriation bill. The party has called on its members in the Assembly to immediately discontinue the process to avoid dragging the image of the APC through the mud.
Factional APC Chairman Chief Emeka Beke echoed this sentiment, maintaining that while the legislature is independent, it must not be used as a tool for political vendetta. This internal split within the APC highlights a deepening divide between those loyal to the Governor and those aligned with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. Despite Fubara holding the APC membership card number 001 in the state, the lawmakers—many of whom also recently defected from the PDP—appear to be acting independently of the state party’s executive.
Ijaw groups and PDP factions react to the crisis
The Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) have also weighed in, calling the impeachment move an “unfortunate development” and a “state capture by one individual.” INC President Prof. Benjamin Okaba urged all lovers of democracy to rise up against the attempt to turn Rivers State into a “personal estate.” The IYC highlighted the numerous projects initiated by Fubara across the state, questioning why a governor who has brought development should be hounded out of office.
Meanwhile, the PDP remains sharply divided on the issue. The Wike-backed faction of the PDP, led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, has endorsed the impeachment process, framing it as a constitutional necessity rather than a political one. They argued that since Fubara left the PDP, they have no obligation to protect him from allegations of misappropriation. Conversely, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) led by Kabiru Turaki has adopted a “cautious and watchful” stance, declining to take a definitive position as the crisis unfolds.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has also stated that it is closely monitoring the situation before taking an informed stance. With the January 15 deadline approaching, the political atmosphere in Port Harcourt remains thick with tension. This marks the third attempt to impeach Fubara since he took office, and it remains to be seen if this latest move will succeed or if a political intervention from Abuja will once again halt the proceedings.
