Amid escalating political tension in Rivers State, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and its youth wing, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), have called for the immediate suspension of the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The two groups, which represent significant Ijaw interests in the state, voiced their concerns on Thursday, condemning the move as a threat to democratic principles and the stability of the state.
Speaking on the issue, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), described the impeachment attempt as not a matter of the Ijaw nation but of democracy, urging defenders of democratic values to resist the unfolding political drama.
Okaba said, “We have been through this before. This crisis was previously resolved with a six-month suspension of the governor and his deputy. Now, it is resurfacing, and we must ask, why now?”
Okaba’s comments underscore growing concerns that political rivalry is undermining governance in the oil-rich state, with the Ijaw groups emphasising the need for peace and political stability.
Focus On Governance, Not Impeachment – IYC President
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), led by Dr Alaye Theophilus, also weighed in on the matter, urging the Rivers State House of Assembly to redirect its focus from impeachment to more pressing issues such as alleged financial mismanagement by the governor.
Theophilus stated, “The governor has not done anything wrong. He has initiated development projects across the state. This is a time for governance, not war.”
The IYC President also suggested that Fubara should be allowed to complete his tenure without interference, cautioning that prolonged political attacks could harm the people of Rivers State. He additionally accused some lawmakers of disloyalty to President Bola Tinubu, urging them to bring any alleged misconduct directly to the president rather than resorting to impeachment.
In a related development, factions of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State have also expressed their opposition to the impeachment move.
A statement issued by Darlington Nwauju, spokesperson for Emeka Beke’s faction of the APC, reaffirmed the independence of the legislature but described the impeachment process as untenable.
Nwauju pointed out that the federal budget approved for 2025 provided a legal framework that allows state governors to spend funds within the first six months of the fiscal year. He cautioned APC members of the House of Assembly not to be swayed by political pressures aimed at destabilising the Rivers State government.
The ongoing impeachment effort, which was initiated on Thursday, stems from multiple allegations levelled against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.
The charges include unauthorised spending, withholding Assembly staff salaries, failure to properly screen appointments, and the demolition of the Assembly complex.
The Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Major Jack, read the impeachment notice, which was later backed by 26 lawmakers. They argued that both the governor and his deputy lacked the capacity to perform their constitutional duties effectively.
The Assembly’s leadership, led by Speaker Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, has given the governor and his deputy seven days to respond to the impeachment notice. In the meantime, the Assembly adopted a motion to delay actions on the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the 2026 Appropriation Bill pending further investigation.
This latest impeachment attempt comes amid intensifying political realignments within the state. In December 2025, 17 PDP lawmakers defected to the APC, a move followed by Governor Fubara’s own defection to the APC, increasing tensions between the APC and PDP factions in the state.
This is the third impeachment attempt against Governor Fubara, following similar efforts in 2023 and 2025.