Amid escalating political strife in Rivers State, a coalition comprising the Ijaw National Congress (INC), the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), factions of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and elements of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have publicly rejected the State House of Assembly’s latest move to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The INC President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, framed the issue as a democratic concern, stating the attempt is “not a matter of the Ijaw nation but of democracy,” while IYC President Dr. Alaye Theophilus defended the governor’s record, asserting, “The governor has not done anything wrong. He has initiated development projects across the state. This is a time for governance, not war.”
The impeachment notices, read on the floor of the Assembly, cite allegations ranging from unauthorized spending to the non-presentation of the 2025 budget. However, opposing groups argue the process is flawed and destabilizing.
The APC faction, while affirming legislative independence, declared the process untenable, and former PDP spokesperson Hon. Sydney Tambari appealed to lawmakers to “sheathe their sword,” noting the governor’s previous concessions for peace. This marks the third impeachment attempt against Fubara since 2023, unfolding against a backdrop of recent defections that have reshaped the state’s political landscape.