A month after joining the All Progressives Congress, the APC-led Rivers State House of Assembly began impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor Prof Ngozi Odu on Thursday. Although the House of Assembly was scheduled to resume on January 26, Speaker Rt Hon. Martins Amaewhule called an early plenary session, where the sole
A month after joining the All Progressives Congress, the APC-led Rivers State House of Assembly began impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor Prof Ngozi Odu on Thursday.
Although the House of Assembly was scheduled to resume on January 26, Speaker Rt Hon. Martins Amaewhule called an early plenary session, where the sole agenda item was a letter from the Majority Leader outlining reasons for impeachment proceedings against the Governor and Deputy.
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on 9th December 2025, during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
The Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Major Jack, read out the notice of allegations and gross misconduct against Fubara and his deputy, relying on Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution. He listed seven points of alleged gross misconduct against Fubara.
Some of the accusations include the demolition of the Assembly Complex, extra-budgetary spending, withholding funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and a refusal to obey the Supreme Court on the financial autonomy of the House.
Twenty-six members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, whose names were announced, signed the notice. The House has 32 members in total, with two positions currently vacant pending a bye-election by INEC. This marks the second time within a year that the Assembly has considered impeaching Governor Fubara.
Some of the gross misconduct allegations included reckless and unconstitutional spending of public funds, obstruction of the House of Assembly from performing its constitutional duties as outlined by the 1999 Constitution, and conniving to allow unauthorised persons to occupy offices without proper screening by the legitimate House of Assembly.
Other allegations were that she approached another group of people for budgetary approval instead of the legitimate Rivers State House of Assembly and seized salaries and allowances accruing to the RSHA and the Rivers State Assembly Service Commission.
He further alleged that the peace deals facilitated by President Tinubu were breached on several occasions, including agreements reached during reconciliation meetings held in December 2023 and another in 2025.
Jack insisted that the continued failure of the governor and his deputy to honour the terms of the peace accord necessitated the impeachment process currently before the Assembly.
After Jack laid his notice before the Speaker, the deputy leader, Linda Stewart, also brought forward a notice of gross misconduct against Odu.
“I will ensure that this letter is forwarded to His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State, within seven days,” Amaewhule said.
Rivers APC Rejects Fubara’s Impeachment Notice
The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected the impeachment process initiated by the Rivers State House of Assembly against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, describing the move as “destabilising and unnecessary”.
In a statement signed on Thursday by the party’s spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju, the APC said it acknowledged the constitutional independence of the legislature but would not support what it termed a resort to impeachment against an APC-led government.
“Our position as of today on this matter is that we solemnly reject the resort to an impeachment process against our Governor and his deputy,” the statement said.
The party cautioned lawmakers, particularly its members in the Assembly, against yielding to external pressure capable of plunging the state into political turmoil.
“It will be totally untenable for our party to keep quiet when an obvious hangover from strife that occurred within the PDP is allowed to resurface in our great party,” Nwauju stated.
Addressing claims that the impeachment threat is linked to budgetary issues, the APC recalled that “during the period of emergency rule, a ₦1.485 trillion budget was transmitted to the National Assembly in May 2025 and approved by the Senate on 25 June and the House of Representatives on 22 July 2025.”
According to the party, the budget is expected to run until August 2026.
The APC pointed out that the governor is legally permitted to choose not to submit a supplementary budget and also reminded the Assembly that the constitution provides six months for spending into the new fiscal year.
“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 destabilised through fratricidal disagreements,” the statement added.
APC Leaders Rally in Abuja to Demand Wike’s Dismissal as Minister
A group of leaders within the APC, represented by the APC Leaders Forum (ALF) and the Tinubu/Shettima Solidarity Movement (TSSM), has released an open letter formally requesting the immediate removal of Chief Nyesom Wike from his position as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The letter cites alleged insubordination, anti-party activities, and actions perceived as threats to national unity.
In a letter dated 7 January 2026 to President Bola Tinubu via APC Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwata, the groups accused Wike of conduct they said was unsuitable for continued service in the APC government.
The letter, co-signed by representatives from both organisations, was released on Thursday in conjunction with a peaceful demonstration held at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja. According to the groups, this rally forms part of a larger initiative aimed at upholding party integrity, promoting democratic values, and supporting the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration.
The signatories—Dr. Emeka Okoro, Dr Adekunle Balogun, Ibrahim Yusuf, and Abdulkareem Isiaka—who described themselves as loyal supporters of President Tinubu, said their decision to speak out was driven by what they termed “egregious misconduct” by the former Rivers State governor, warning that silence could endanger party unity and national stability.
At the core of their concerns were assertions that Wike, who is not officially listed as an APC member, had engaged in ongoing criticism of the party’s national leadership.
They referred to statements that Wike is said to have made on 5 January 2026, during his visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area in Rivers State. In these remarks, he reportedly accused Senator Ajibola Basiru, the APC National Secretary, of meddling in Rivers politics for his own personal benefit.
The letter noted that Wike’s remarks, including his warning that interference in Rivers affairs would result in adverse consequences, were interpreted as intimidation and a direct affront to the APC National Working Committee. The groups asserted that these statements compromised the authority of the party leadership and contravened the standards of discipline required of a serving minister.
The coalition further alleged that Wike acted contrary to the interests of the APC-led administration in Rivers State, claiming he had consistently criticised Governor Siminalayi Fubara, whom they identified as the party’s duly elected governor.
The letter partly read: “Wike’s ongoing vendetta against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, our duly elected APC Governor in Rivers State, is nothing short of political sabotage. He has repeatedly mocked Fubara’s leadership, called his emergence a ‘mistake’ to be corrected in 2027, and accused him of betrayal and incompetence. These attacks have escalated in recent weeks, with Wike touring local governments to incite division and undermine Fubara’s administration.
They argued that such conduct amounted to political sabotage and anti-party activity, especially coming from a minister in an APC administration, warning that it could weaken the party’s foothold in the strategically important Niger Delta state.
The groups also accused Wike of making statements they said posed a direct challenge to presidential authority and national security. They pointed to remarks attributed to him suggesting that “nobody can enter Rivers State,” which they interpreted as an attempt to declare the state a no-go area for perceived opponents.
Describing the comments as a veiled threat, the groups warned that such rhetoric could inflame tensions in the Niger Delta and embolden lawlessness. They argued that any suggestion of restricting access to a Nigerian state was an affront to the President’s authority as Commander-in-Chief.
The APC leaders further criticised Wike for allegedly admitting to controlling “two political parties” while serving as a minister, describing it as a clear conflict of interest and a violation of party ethics.
They warned that retaining Wike in the cabinet could plunge the APC into avoidable crises ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging President Tinubu to act decisively.
The groups also announced plans to extend their protests nationwide, vowing to mobilise rallies across states and local governments until the minister is relieved of his appointment.
While calling for swift action, the signatories urged the President to demonstrate that no individual is above the party or the country, even as they reaffirmed their support for Tinubu’s leadership and re-election bid.
