By Dan Abia, Davies Iheamnachor & Luminous Jannamike
PORT HARCOURT – The renewed disaster In Rivers State, the state of affairs reached a crescendo yesterday, with the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, being at loggerheads with the Home of Meeting following the initiation of impeachment proceedings in opposition to Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, over allegations of gross misconduct and misappropriation of funds.
The lawmakers reconvened from their recess that might have lapsed on January 26, to begin the elimination course of and adjourned to January 15, in a transfer that has kicked up mud within the polity.
The Rivers APC, Ijaw Nationwide Congress, INC, and Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, had been amongst teams that rejected the impeachment proceedings outright and urged the legislators to withstand pressures to destabilise Fubara’s authorities.
Particularly, the APC, which Fubara joined just lately from the Peoples Democratic Occasion, PDP, stated the governor had achieved no fallacious by not presenting a 2026 funds as a result of the funds handed by the Nationwide Meeting for the state in the course of the six months emergency rule will run until August 2026.
Nonetheless, there was a pointy cut up inside the PDP, because the Wike-backed faction of the occasion endorsed the method whereas the PDP Nationwide Working Committee, NWC, adopted a cautious, watchful stance.
Additionally, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, stated it’s intently monitoring unfolding political developments in Rivers State earlier than taking a definitive place on the matter.
Why Fubara, Odu should go —Meeting
The Speaker, Rivers State Home of Meeting, Martin Amaewhule, stated the choice of the Home stemmed from alleged failure of Fubara and his deputy, Odu, to current the funds of the state.
The lawmakers alleged that Fubara had refused to permit the Meeting make inputs into the appropriation payments of the state, including that the offences are impeachable.
This was contained in a movement by the Deputy Speaker of the Home, Dumle Maol and seconded by Silvernus Nwankwo.
Counting on Part 188 of the 1999 Structure as amended, the Majority Chief of the Home, Main Jack, reeled out seven factors of gross misconduct in opposition to Governor Fubara. The accusations embody demolition of the Meeting Complicated, extra-budgetary spending, withholding funds meant for the Meeting Service Fee, and refusal to obey the Supreme Courtroom ruling on monetary autonomy of the Home.
After the Majority Chief laid his discover earlier than the Speaker, the Deputy Chief, Linda Stewart, introduced ahead a discover of gross misconduct in opposition to the Deputy Governor, Prof. Odu.
A number of the accusations are: Reckless and unconstitutional spending of public funds; obstructing the Home of Meeting from performing her constitutional duties as outlined by the 1999 structure; conniving to permit unauthorised individuals to occupy places of work with out correct screening by the respectable Home of Meeting; Approaching one other group of individuals for budgetary approval as a substitute of the respectable Rivers State Home of Meeting; and Seizure of salaries and allowances accruing to the RSHA and the Meeting Service Fee amongst others.
Fubara’s a mistake — Speaker
Commenting on the movement, Speaker Amaewhule, stated the misconduct within the discover centered round presentation of funds and spending outdoors the state’s appropriation invoice.
Amaewhule stated: “It can be crucial that the method we’re about to undergo in step with the provisions of the structure and the particulars of these misconducts have lots to do with the presentation of funds, spending outdoors the appropriation legislation, which corroborates what members additionally indicated in that discover.
“However we aren’t discussing the discover, or once they make a reference to it, which is that there’s a discover, and the method of impeachment is on, as we converse.
“In any case, the governor doesn’t even need to current any funds, as a result of if he wished to, he would have introduced all of it this whereas.
“Siminalayi Fubara is a mistake. He’s a mistake. Rivers has by no means had it this unhealthy. In all the Nigeria, Siminalayi Fubara and Prof. Odu are the one two folks in workplace on the sub-national degree which might be but to current the 2026 appropriation invoice.
“I’m certain in the event you go to all the African sub-region, even Africa, you’ll not discover any sub-national authorities that has not offered an appropriation invoice for 2026.
“Who would imagine that on this twenty first century, {that a} state like Rivers State won’t have an appropriation invoice, both current or previous? Nothing is holding the governor from presenting it. He selected to not.
“He has been boasting, he has been saying it to his followers, that this meeting, we’re nothing however two closed doorways. On this state-represented meeting, we can’t implement the structure. This can be a unhappy commentary for our democracy.”
He alleged that even when the meeting authorized a funds for the governor, he deserted it and began awarding contracts away from the appropriation invoice.
His phrases: “Even once we had an approval in 2023 for the governor to spend, the governor left the appropriation legislation of 2023 and began awarding contracts outdoors the funds.
“For the way lengthy are we going to permit this to occur? Our colleges are usually not functioning. Our colleges are usually not functioning the best way they need to operate. Rivers individuals are struggling. Our youth are usually not being employed.
Our roads are unhealthy. Our hospitals, well being centres are usually not absolutely purposeful. Quite a lot of them are having points. Fairly than observe by means of the method, what the governor has determined to do is to save cash, change it to {dollars} to subvert the need of the Rivers folks, to subvert the structure.
Claiming that Fubara is a risk to democracy, he stated “sufficient is sufficient,”and the legislation has to take its course on the matter as a result of President Bola Tinubu has achieved sufficient to make sure that Fubara turned a brand new leaf however the governor has remained unchanged.
He stated: “Let the legislation take its course. The legislation has to take its course. We thank Mr. President.
He’s a father. Mr. President has achieved his greatest. Mr. President has spoken to the governor. In my presence, Mr. President informed the governor, I’m providing you with a second likelihood. The governor refused. He gave him one other one, the governor refused. What number of occasions?
“Distinguished colleagues, by this movement, this Home thereby condemns the refusal of the governor of Rivers State to current the middle-term expedition framework and the 2026 appropriation invoice in step with Rivers State legal guidelines and the structure, respectively, in addition to a reckless spending from the Consolidated Income Fund of Rivers State.
“On this, the Home is declaring that the Home won’t proceed with any motion for presentation of the middle-term expenditure framework and appropriation invoice 2026 till the investigation of gross misconduct leveled in opposition to the governor has been accomplished,” Amaewhule gavelled and adjourned continuing on the impeachment proceedings until January 15.
No fewer than 26 of the 32 lawmakers of the Home signed the discover, which Speaker Amaewhule stated could be served on the governor inside seven days, marking the formal begin of the impeachment course of.
APC rejects impeachment continuing in opposition to Fubara
Rejecting the impeachment transfer in opposition to Fubara and Odu, the Rivers APC urged the lawmakers to withstand strain from outdoors the legislature to destabilise Fubara’s administration.
Factional spokesman of the occasion within the state, Darlington Nwauju, in an announcement, described the Meeting’s transfer as an unlucky growth.
Nwauju regretted that the lawmakers are importing the disaster of their former occasion (PDP) into the APC, including it could be unhealthy if the APC remained silent.
He stated: “We concede that the legislature is an unbiased arm within the tripod of governance, and the constitutional tasks of verify and balances are inside their democratic purview.
“Our place as of at this time on this matter is that, we solemnly reject the resort to an impeachment course of in opposition to our Governor and his deputy.
“It will likely be completely untenable for our occasion to maintain quiet when an apparent hangover from strifes that occurred inside the PDP are allowed to resurface in our nice occasion.”
Nwauju famous that the out-gone Sole Administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas, retd., submitted a funds to the Nationwide Meeting, it was handed into legislation, and the lifeline of the funds was nonetheless legitimate.
He defined additional that the legislation nonetheless permits the state to run even until six months with out a funds, noting that it stands on the discretion of the governor to abide by the funds already handed by the Nationwide Meeting or make a brand new appropriation invoice.
He stated: “You will need to say to Rivers folks and Nigerians that for the reason that newest risk of impeachment centres on the funds, might we remind ourselves that below the interval of emergency rule, a funds was transmitted to the Nationwide Meeting by the President and Commander-in-Chief in Could 2025 which was authorized by the Senate on June 25, 2025, and subsequently by the Home of Representatives on July 22, 2025 for a complete sum of N1.485 trillion.
“Curiously, this funds is for one yr and will run till August 2026 and if the Governor is snug with the composition of the stated funds, he might elect to not current any supplementary funds. Apart from, the structure permits for a six-month spending window into the brand new fiscal yr by a state governor.
“We, due to this fact, strongly advise all members of the Rivers State Home of Meeting, particularly APC members, to withstand pressures from outdoors the Meeting chambers to destabilise the Authorities of Rivers State led by Sir Fubara.”
He stated the occasion will do the whole lot attainable to make sure that the state and governor are protected.
He stated: “Let it’s identified that our occasion will do the whole lot attainable to make sure that the Authorities of Rivers State, which is an APC authorities, will not be destabilised by means of fratricidal disagreements.
“We due to this fact name on members of the State Meeting, particularly APC members, to right away discontinue the impeachment course of so as to not drag the picture of our nice occasion to the mud and stifle the continual progress and growth of Rivers State.”
Rivers APC faction concur
Equally, the faction of Rivers APC led by Chief Emeka Beke, stated: “We concede that the legislature is an unbiased arm within the tripod of governance, and the constitutional tasks of checks and balances are inside their democratic purview.
“Our place as at at this time on this matter is that, we solemnly reject the resort to an impeachment course of in opposition to our governor and his deputy. It will likely be completely untenable for our occasion to maintain quiet when an apparent hangover from strife that occurred inside the PDP is allowed to resurface in our nice occasion.”
PDP cut up as Wike’s camp backs Rivers Meeting
There was a cut up within the PDP on the problem. Whereas the Wike-backed faction endorsed the method, the PDP NWC adopted a cautious, watchful stance.
Talking individually with Vanguard in Abuja, yesterday, Jungudo Haruna, Nationwide Publicity Secretary of the PDP Nationwide Caretaker Committee led by Abdulrahman Mohammed and backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, distanced the occasion from the embattled governor and framed the impeachment as a constitutional, not political, matter.
“You already know Governor Fubara is not a member of our occasion and we’re wishing him nicely for shifting to the APC. It’s inside his constitutional proper to take action,” Haruna stated, including that the impeachment course of shouldn’t be considered by means of a partisan lens as a result of the allegations raised in opposition to the governor deserve institutional scrutiny.
“The problems of impeachment are clearly not points that need to do with occasion politics. There are points as we had allegations of misappropriation or is it abuse of workplace? These are points that he has to go and clear himself. The method has began and there are laid-down constitutional procedures.
“So, we advise him to observe the procedures, the steps after which on the finish of the day, if he isn’t responsible of the fees, superb and good. But when he’s discovered wanting, we should all stand as much as commend the members of the River State Home of Meeting for making certain a correct separation of energy.”
He went additional to commend the lawmakers, portraying their motion as an illustration of legislative independence fairly than political aggression.
In distinction, the PDP NWC led by Kabiru Turaki declined to take a definitive place on the impeachment, signalling restraint amid the unfolding disaster.
Ini Ememobong, Nationwide Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led NWC, informed Vanguard that the occasion management iwas withholding feedback for now.
“We’re not reacting, we’re monitoring. So let’s simply monitor and see what occurs,” Ememobong stated.
Drop transfer in opposition to Fubara, INC, IYC urge Meeting
Amid a renewed political pressure in Rivers State, the Ijaw Nationwide Congress, INC, a socio-cultural group of the Ijaw-speaking ethnic nationality has urged the Meeting to sheathe its sword within the curiosity of peace within the state.
Additionally, the youth wing of INC, Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, known as on the lawmakers to contemplate the pursuits of Rivers folks far and above private pursuits by permitting Fubara to quietly full his first tenure.
Responding to the impeachment proceedings, INC President, Prof Benjamin Okaba stated: “This isn’t a matter of Ijaw Nation. It’s about democracy. We name on all lovers of democracy to stand up in opposition to this unlucky growth.”
Okaba described what is occurring in Rivers State as “a state seize by one particular person, who needs to show Rivers to his private property”, including that, it’s unlucky that after the disaster was resolved and issues started to work usually after the six months suspension of the governor and his deputy, “this has come up once more.”
On his occasion, the president of IYC, Dr. Alaye Theophilus, urged the state Meeting to level out areas the place Governor Fubara spent cash with out the 2025 budgetary provision as alleged on the ground of the Home.
“They need to enable Fubara to finish his tenure in peace. That is time for governance and never battle. Fubara has been below assault for shut to 3 years now for offences he by no means dedicated. It’s the Rivers folks which might be shedding in the entire of this disaster.”
In accordance with the IYC President, the “angle of the lawmakers is a transparent indication that they’re disloyal to President Tinubu. They need to respect the President and permit him to return to the nation, and if Fubara had achieved something fallacious, report again to the President.”
Theophilus condemned the impeachment course of, saying that such an try won’t ever see the sunshine of the day. “The governor has not achieved something fallacious. The younger man has introduced growth to the state. Take a look at the initiatives he has initiated all by means of the state. What’s the governor’s offence that ought to warrant impeachment?”
ADC monitoring Rivers disaster, but to take place — Spokesman
Contacted on the problem, Nationwide Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, stated the occasion was intently monitoring unfolding political developments in Rivers State and would reply solely after a cautious evaluation of occasions.
“We’re learning political growth in Rivers. Allow us to examine it, see what occurs after which take an knowledgeable place on the matter,” Abdullahi stated.
It will likely be recalled that on December 5, 2025, about 17 lawmakers from the state Meeting defected from the PDP, to the APC. On December 9, Governor Fubara additionally defected to the APC.
The impeachment course of on the governor and his deputy got here as a shock to many individuals who thought that becoming a member of the ruling APC would defend the governor from such a risk.
Wike had earlier stated publicly that if Fubara ought to win a second time period, he could be buried politically whereas Fubara alternatively, had been boasting that he stays the political chief of Rivers state politics given his APC card registration quantity as 001.
That is the third time in a row that the Meeting has tried to question the governor. First, was in 2023, then 2025 earlier than the declaration of state of emergency and now in 2026. It’s left to be seen if this can even see the sunshine of the day.
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