The Rivers State chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has faulted some of the grounds for which the state House of Assembly initiated impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Oduh.
Newsmata.com.ng reports that 26 out of the 30 members of the Martin Amaewhule-led House loyal to the immediate past governor of the state and minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike had at Wednesday’s plenary, reeled out eight allegations and misconduct against the duo in an impeachment notice which they said would be served on them within seven days.
The allegations included: Reckless and unconstitutional expenditure of public funds; Unconstitutional misappropriation of public funds; Hindering the Rivers state house of assembly from performing its constitutional duties and Illegal appointments of persons without allowing for screening by the house of assembly as provided by the constitution.
Others are Seizure of salaries and funds meant for assembly members; Seizure of salaries of the clerk of the Rivers state house of assembly, Emeka Amadi; Refusal to implement provisions of the constitution on financial autonomy of the legislature and the judiciary, and; Withholding of funds meant for the running of the Rivers house of assembly service commission and hindering its activities.
Reacting to the development, the APC, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju, said they “solemnly reject” the impeachment. The party said while it recognised the legislature as an independent arm of government with constitutional responsibilities of checks and balances, it would however do everything possible to ensure that the Government of Rivers State, which is an APC government, is not destabilized “through fratricidal disagreements”.
The statement, titled “Rivers APC Rejects Impeachment Process Against Gov Sim Fubara”, faulted some of the allegations bordering on the state’s budget, noting the existence of a budget inherited from the former sole administrator which was passed by the National Assembly.
The party therefore advised all lawmakers, especially APC members, to resist pressures from outside the Assembly chambers to destablise the Fubara-led government.
The full statement reads:
“The attention of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State has been drawn to the latest unfortunate developments coming out from the chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“We concede that the legislature is an independent arm in the tripod of governance, and the constitutional responsibilities of checks and balances are within their democratic purview.
Our position as at today on this matter is that we solemnly reject the resort to an impeachment process against our Governor and his deputy.
“It will be totally untenable for our party to keep quiet when an obvious hangover from strifes that occurred within the PDP are allowed to resurface in our great party.
“It is important to say to Rivers people and Nigerians that since the latest threat of impeachment centers on the budget, may we remind ourselves that under the period of emergency rule, a budget was transmitted to the National Assembly by the President and Commander-in-Chief in May 2025 which was approved by the Senate on 25 June 2025 and subsequently by the House of Representatives on July 22, 2025 for a total sum of #1.485 trillion.
“Interestingly, this budget is for one year and should run until August 2026 and if the Governor is comfortable with the composition of the said budget, he may elect not to present any supplementary budget. Besides, the constitution allows for a six-months spending window into the new fiscal year by a state governor.
“We therefore strongly advise all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly especially APC members, to resist pressures from outside the Assembly chambers to destablize the Government of Rivers state ably led by His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
“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 destabilized through fratricidal disagreements.
“We therefore call on members of the State Assembly especially APC members, to immediately discontinue the impeachment process in order not to drag the image of our great party to the mud and stifle the continuous progress and development of Rivers State.
“Let our state remain a democracy and not a politicocracy!!!”