Amid rising political tension in Rivers State, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and its youth wing, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), have called on the Rivers State House of Assembly to halt ongoing impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Speaking on Thursday, INC President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, described the impeachment attempt as “not a matter of the Ijaw nation but of democracy,” urging all defenders of democratic principles to resist what he termed an unfortunate development.
He noted that the crisis had previously been resolved following a six-month suspension of the governor and his deputy, and expressed concern over its resurfacing.
IYC President, Dr. Alaye Theophilus, urged the Assembly to focus on areas where the governor allegedly spent funds without budgetary approval rather than pursuing impeachment. He stressed that Fubara should be allowed to complete his tenure peacefully, noting that prolonged political attacks ultimately harm the people of Rivers State.
“The governor has not done anything wrong,” Theophilus said. “He has initiated development projects across the state. This is a time for governance, not war.” He also accused lawmakers of disloyalty to President Bola Tinubu, urging them to respect the office and report any alleged misconduct directly to him.
APC
Factions of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State also rejected the impeachment attempt. In a statement signed by Darlington Nwauju, a spokesperson for Chief Emeka Beke’s faction, the party reaffirmed the independence of the legislature but described the impeachment process as untenable.
The statement highlighted that the federal budget approved in 2025 provides a legal framework allowing state governors to spend funds within a six-month window at the start of a fiscal year. It warned APC members of the Assembly against being influenced to destabilize the Rivers State government.
PDP
Similarly, former PDP spokesperson in the state, Hon. Sydney Tambari, appealed to lawmakers to “sheathe their sword,” noting that Fubara had made significant concessions to maintain peace in the state and describing the impeachment effort as an unfortunate development at the start of the year.
