The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and th South South Youth Initiatives have condemned moves to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, warning that such action would destabilise the state and damage the party’s image.
In a press statement issued on Thursday and signed by the Rivers APC spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju, the party said its leadership had taken note of the “unfortunate developments” emanating from the Rivers State House of Assembly.
While acknowledging the constitutional independence of the legislature and its role in checks and balances, the APC said it could not support an impeachment process against a governor elected on its platform.
“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 read.
The party warned against allowing internal disputes associated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to spill into the APC, describing such a development as unacceptable.
Addressing claims that the impeachment threat is linked to budgetary issues, the APC recalled that during the period of emergency rule, a budget of ₦1.485 trillion was transmitted to the National Assembly by the President in May 2025 and subsequently approved by the Senate on June 25, 2025, and the House of Representatives on July 22, 2025.
According to the statement, the budget was designed to run for one year until August 2026, noting that the governor is not constitutionally compelled to present a supplementary budget if he is satisfied with the existing appropriation.
The party also cited constitutional provisions allowing a governor to spend for up to six months into a new fiscal year.
The APC leadership therefore urged members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, particularly its lawmakers, to resist what it described as “pressures from outside the Assembly chambers” aimed at destabilising the government.
“We 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.
The party called on the lawmakers to immediately discontinue the impeachment process, warning that proceeding with it could tarnish the APC’s image and undermine governance and development in the state.
“Let our state remain a democracy and not a politicocracy,” the statement noted.
Similarly, the South South Youth Initiatives in a statement signed by its National President, Comrade Imeabe Saviour Oscar, said the impeachment move has the tendency of throwing the state into another round of crisis.
The statement read; “On behalf of the youths of the South South region and Rivers State in particular, we express our utter dismay over the recent happenings in the Rivers political space especially with the Notice of Impeachment by the State House of Assembly againsg Governor Siminialayi Fubara.
“We wish to categorically condemn the resurgence of such impeachment threats against the Governor by the Assembly.
“Rivers youths are appalled that this is coming at a point when we are all expecting that the legislature would work closely with the governor to give Rivers State the desired governance that has been lacking since the return from Emergency Rule.
“That while other states are talking about governance, Rivers State is still playing politics despite coming out from a six-month near collapse of governance. This is most unfortunate. Even though we are aware that the country is about entering a political season, however, this action by the Assembly is too sudden and ill-conceived.
“We also want to call on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike to understand that he is not contesting for governorship or any political position, and we equally want Rivers people to join us in asking Nyesom Wike the election he is contesting for in 2027 that should warrant heating of the polity. Nyesom Wike should allow Governor Siminialayi Fubara to concentrate and govern the state.
“We, again, condemn in its entirety the impeachment notice issued to the governor by the State House of Assembly led by Martin Amaewhule because this has the tendency of throwing our dear state into another round of crisis.
“We call on President Bola Tinubu to immediately call Mr Nyesom Wike to order .
“Let it also be known that Nyesom Wike is not the owner of Rivers State. Rivers State is owned by all of us and as such one man cannot sit and declare ownership of the state.
“As a group, we also want to state unequivocally that Rivers Youths are not in consonance with any agreement that does not include their overall l interest . Nyesom Wike did not sign any agreement before he became governor of Rivers State, so whatever kangaroo agreement that was signed, Rivers youths are not in support of such and that the governor must be allowed to complete his first and second tenures like every other democratically elected governors that has governed Rivers State did.
“We also call on security agencies to hold Martin Amaewhule and the Rivers State House of Assembly responsible for any breach of the peace in Rivers State following their recent action.
“We urged the Assembly to synergise with the governor to actualise good governance and not distract him or cause more chaos in the state.
“Finally, we call on Governor Siminialayi Fubara not to be distracted by the antics of those who don’t mean well for the state but to concentrate on his good works in the state”.
