Senior figures of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have launched behind-the-scenes efforts to defuse rising political tension in Rivers State even as the Rivers State House of Assembly insists that nothing will stop its latest impeachment move against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu.
The development comes as the Rivers Assembly, dominated by lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, formally commenced impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy, issuing them a seven-day notice to respond to allegations of gross misconduct.
Despite the impeachment push, multiple APC sources confirmed that party leaders, governors, and key federal officials have begun reaching out to both Governor Fubara and Minister Wike in a bid to achieve a political solution and prevent the crisis from escalating into violence.
“There are underground moves already aimed at dousing the tension. A political solution is being sought, and both the governor and the FCT minister are being engaged,” a top APC source told Punch.
Another senior political figure disclosed that the Presidency has been fully briefed and that President Bola Tinubu is expected to intervene directly.
“The President will intervene. Some key members of government are already reaching out to both parties. Nobody wants another round of instability in Rivers State,” the source said.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State House of Assembly has hardened its stance, declaring during plenary that the impeachment process would be pursued to its logical conclusion. The House suspended its recess to address what it described as unresolved constitutional breaches arising from the prolonged standoff between the executive and the legislature.
For the third time in less than three years, lawmakers have initiated impeachment moves against Governor Fubara and his deputy.
During the session presided over by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, formally read the notice of allegations of gross misconduct against the governor in line with Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). A separate notice was also issued against the deputy governor.
The allegations include the governor’s alleged refusal to present the Rivers State Appropriation Bill, unlawful expenditure of public funds, extra-budgetary spending, withholding funds meant for the Assembly and the Assembly Service Commission, and failure to comply with Supreme Court rulings on legislative financial autonomy.
Lawmakers accused Fubara of violating Section 121(2) of the Constitution by refusing to submit the budget for legislative consideration. They also alleged that contracts were awarded outside the approved appropriation law.
Speaker Amaewhule described the governor as a “mistake” and a “threat to democracy,” insisting that Rivers State could no longer tolerate what he termed unconstitutional governance. He claimed that Rivers State is the only sub-national government in Nigeria yet to present a 2026 appropriation bill.
“The law has to take its course,” the Speaker declared, adding that President Tinubu had intervened on multiple occasions to persuade the governor to change course but that the efforts were rebuffed.
As part of the impeachment process, the House announced the suspension of consideration of the 2026 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Appropriation Bill until the investigation into the alleged gross misconduct is concluded, effectively stalling budgetary activities in the state.
The Speaker confirmed that the notice of allegations would be formally transmitted to the governor within seven days, as required by the Constitution.
However, the Rivers State Government urged calm, stating that it had not yet received any formal notice from the Assembly. A senior government official said any immediate reaction would be premature and stressed that the administration’s priority remains peace and stability.
The impeachment move has triggered sharp reactions within the APC itself. The faction of the party in Rivers State aligned with former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, rejected the impeachment process, warning against importing internal Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) disputes into the APC.
The party argued that a ₦1.485 trillion budget transmitted by President Tinubu to the National Assembly during the period of emergency rule in 2025 remains valid until August 2026 and that the Constitution allows a six-month spending window into a new fiscal year.
Civil society organisations, youth groups, and women groups have also raised concerns, warning that the impeachment could plunge Rivers State into another political and security crisis. Several groups called on President Tinubu to rein in political actors and prioritise dialogue over confrontation.
Rivers State has remained politically volatile since Governor Fubara, elected in 2023 with the backing of Nyesom Wike, began asserting independence shortly after assuming office. The fallout between both men has fractured the state legislature, disrupted governance, and triggered repeated impeachment threats
