By Muhammad Mamman
The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a bold directive to its members in the State House of Assembly to immediately initiate impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara. This dramatic escalation follows the governor’s provocative claim that the Assembly, led by Speaker Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule, lacks legal legitimacy.
Speaking at a press conference in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Rivers APC Chairman Chief Tony Okocha accused Governor Fubara of “grossly insulting” President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to broker peace in the state’s ongoing political crisis. The APC’s call for impeachment stems from Fubara’s refusal to honour a peace accord facilitated by President Tinubu months ago, aimed at resolving tensions between the governor and Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Okocha further condemned Fubara’s recent declaration that the seats of APC lawmakers were vacant, branding it a direct affront to the rule of law.
Fubara’s Defiant Stance Sparks Outrage
On Monday, Governor Fubara ignited controversy by asserting that the APC-dominated Assembly “does not exist” in the eyes of the law. “Those men claiming to be Assembly members are not existing. Their actions are only possible because I allow them to function. If I withdraw recognition, they are nowhere,” Fubara declared during a meeting with political and traditional leaders from Bayelsa State, including former Military Governor Alfred Diete-Spiff and Senator Henry Siriake Dickson.
Fubara justified his stance by citing his commitment to the Tinubu-brokered peace accord, which he described as a “political solution” rather than a constitutional mandate. He claimed to have acted as a “big brother” despite facing “intimidation and unwarranted attacks,” accusing his opponents of undermining every attempt at reconciliation.
The Root of the Rift
The feud between Fubara and the Assembly intensified over the passage of the Rivers State Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The Assembly, during its 173rd legislative sitting, overrode Fubara’s withheld assent to enact the bill into law. Speaker Amaewhule defended the legislation, arguing it protects taxpayers’ money by ensuring contracts are awarded transparently and not squandered on “frivolities or dubious deals.” He accused the governor of governing dictatorially and breaching state laws.
In response, Fubara dismissed the lawmakers’ authority, warning that their status as legislators hinges solely on his recognition. “I accepted the peace accord to give them a lifeline. Their existence depends on my goodwill,” he told the Bayelsa delegation.
APC Vows to Uphold the Rule of Law
The APC’s impeachment directive signals a critical juncture in Rivers State’s political saga. Okocha stressed that the party will not tolerate Fubara’s “tyrannical” disregard for legal and constitutional norms. The Assembly, led by Amaewhule, has vowed to take “stringent measures” if the governor persists in flouting state laws.
