Port Harcourt, January 8, 2026 – The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly condemned the initiation of impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, by the Rivers State House of Assembly, describing the move as "unfortunate" and warning that it could plunge the state into further instability.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the party's Publicity Secretary, Darlington Nwauju, the APC expressed alarm over the developments in the House, acknowledging the legislature's constitutional oversight powers but arguing that resorting to impeachment was unwarranted and lacked justification. The party emphasized that it could not stand idly by while lingering internal conflicts from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) threatened the stability of what it described as an APC-led government in Rivers State, following Governor Fubara's defection to the APC in late 2025.
The impeachment proceedings, which commenced during a plenary session on January 8, 2026, were led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, who cited allegations of gross misconduct against the governor and his deputy. These included claims of extra-budgetary spending, withholding of funds, and other constitutional violations, with a notice dated January 5, 2026, reportedly signed by 26 lawmakers in line with Section 188 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended). The Assembly also resolved to serve the impeachment notice within seven days and barred Governor Fubara from presenting the Mid-Term Expenditure Framework or the 2026 budget until the probe concludes.
The APC, however, tied the impeachment threat primarily to budgetary disputes. The party recalled that during the period of emergency rule imposed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in March 2025 – which lasted six months and was lifted in September 2025 – a ₦1.481 trillion budget for Rivers State's 2025 fiscal year was transmitted by the President to the National Assembly in May 2025. This budget was subsequently approved by the Senate and House of Representatives, intended to cover expenditures amid the political crisis that had paralyzed state governance.
According to the APC statement, Governor Fubara is not constitutionally obligated to present a supplementary budget if the existing appropriation remains sufficient. Furthermore, the party noted that the Nigerian Constitution permits a governor to continue spending on recurring expenditures for up to six months into a new fiscal year without a new budget in place. "The impeachment threat lacks both legal and moral justification," the statement read, urging lawmakers – especially those elected on the APC platform – to resist any external pressures aimed at undermining the current administration.
The ruling party warned that persisting with the impeachment process could severely damage the APC's reputation in Rivers State and derail ongoing development projects. It called on all political stakeholders to prioritize democratic principles, allowing governance to take precedence over personal rivalries that risk disrupting peace and progress. The APC vowed to do everything possible to halt the process, framing it as an "obvious hangover" from previous PDP internal strife that should not be allowed to affect the state's current APC alignment.
This latest escalation comes against the backdrop of renewed tensions in Rivers State's long-running political crisis, primarily between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike. The rift, which initially erupted in 2023 over control of PDP structures, intensified in early 2025, leading to President Tinubu's declaration of a state of emergency on March 18, 2025, citing escalating instability and threats to national oil production. The emergency rule suspended the governor, deputy, and lawmakers for six months, with governance temporarily overseen federally.
Although the emergency was lifted in September 2025 after a Supreme Court ruling and reported resolution of the constitutional crisis, fresh hostilities resurfaced in late December 2025 and early January 2026. Wike's series of "thank you" visits to local government areas in Rivers State were widely seen as political maneuvers, prompting accusations from Fubara's camp and counter-statements from Wike warning against misleading the governor or violating past agreements. Recent defections, including that of the Secretary to the State Government, and public exchanges have further polarized the political landscape.
The impeachment move has drawn mixed reactions, with some APC factions and groups also condemning it as undermining President Tinubu's previous peace efforts. Analysts note that the crisis continues to highlight deep divisions over political control ahead of the 2027 elections, with potential implications for national unity and oil-rich Rivers State's stability.
As of Thursday evening, there has been no immediate official response from Governor Fubara's office or the presidency to the APC's statement or the ongoing Assembly proceedings. The situation remains tense, with observers calling for dialogue to prevent a return to the disruptions seen in 2025.
