The APC Progressive Mandate Group has strongly condemned the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, calling for an immediate suspension of the process. The group described the move as constitutionally defective, politically driven, and a direct violation of the peace agreement personally brokered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its spokesperson, Ayodele Alonge, the group warned that the impeachment process, currently before the Rivers State House of Assembly, is being pursued on what it described as a faulty legal foundation. According to the group, allowing the process to continue could further destabilise the state and undermine democratic governance.
“The ongoing impeachment proceedings are fundamentally flawed and lack the constitutional and procedural grounding required for such a grave action,” the statement said. “Beyond being a legal misstep, this is an affront to the office of the President, who personally mediated peace between Governor Fubara, Minister Nyesom Wike, and the Rivers State House of Assembly. It threatens the fragile harmony that was painstakingly restored and witnessed by Nigerians last year.”
The Rivers State House of Assembly had earlier justified the impeachment by citing allegations against Governor Fubara, including claims of extra-budgetary spending, the demolition of the Assembly complex, withholding of funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and alleged disobedience of a Supreme Court ruling on legislative autonomy. Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu is also accused of reckless and unconstitutional expenditure, as well as obstructing the Assembly from carrying out its statutory responsibilities.
However, the APC Progressive Mandate Group dismissed these allegations as politically motivated and lacking merit. The group argued that President Tinubu had intervened decisively in 2024 to resolve tensions that threatened governance and stability in Rivers State, a process that culminated in a reconciliation agreement signed by Governor Fubara and Minister Wike under the supervision of the President.
“To now attempt to unravel that agreement is not only irresponsible, it is a direct challenge to the authority, wisdom, and leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the statement said. “The reconciliation was a national effort aimed at restoring stability and effective governance in Rivers State. Any action that undermines it should not be tolerated.”
The group further faulted the Assembly’s reliance on the Rivers State budget passed by the National Assembly during the period of emergency rule, arguing that the lawmakers lack the constitutional powers to challenge the implementation of that budget.
“The Assembly is hinging its impeachment decision on the budget passed by the National Assembly during emergency rule. They have no authority whatsoever to question or penalise the implementation of that budget,” Alonge stated.
The APC Progressive Mandate Group also linked the impeachment attempt to recent political realignments in the state, noting that Governor Fubara’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December 2025 had reshaped the political landscape in Rivers State.
According to the group, Fubara’s move to the ruling party triggered a wave of defections by key political actors, including at least five members of the House of Representatives representing Rivers constituencies.
“Governor Fubara has significantly strengthened the APC’s presence in Rivers State, building bridges with influential leaders and lawmakers whose inclusion has enhanced the party’s national relevance,” the statement said. “These developments reflect growing confidence in his leadership. Unfortunately, the impeachment effort threatens to undermine the very gains President Tinubu sought to secure through dialogue, reconciliation, and political inclusion.”
The group also criticised the role allegedly being played by Minister Nyesom Wike and his loyalists in the House of Assembly, suggesting that the impeachment is less about accountability and more about political sabotage.
“For a long time, Governor Fubara has been portrayed as the source of instability in Rivers State. It is now evident that the real destabilisation is being driven by a faction led by Minister Wike and sympathetic legislators who are determined to dismantle the peace facilitated by President Tinubu,” the statement said. “Their actions are undermining state cohesion and threatening the broader democratic order.”
The APC Progressive Mandate Group went further to question Wike’s conduct as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, insisting that he should focus on his ministerial responsibilities or resign.
“Wike must be called upon to either face his duties as FCT minister or resign immediately. His alleged involvement in the impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara is an insult to the President, who demonstrated uncommon courage by appointing him as a minister despite his PDP background,” the group stated.
The group called on the National Assembly to intervene urgently, warning that failure to act could set a dangerous precedent for other states across the country.
“We urge the National Assembly to uphold constitutional order and intervene decisively. The federal legislature must ensure that due process and legal propriety are respected in Rivers State. The actions of a few individuals must not be allowed to dictate the political destiny of an entire state,” Alonge said.
Concluding its statement, the APC Progressive Mandate Group demanded an immediate halt to the impeachment process and a formal apology to President Tinubu.
“This impeachment is not corrective; it is a political misadventure,” the group said. “Halting the process and acknowledging the President’s critical role in restoring peace is essential, not only for Rivers State but for the credibility of democratic governance in Nigeria. Those behind this disruption must understand that attempts to subvert national reconciliation will neither succeed nor be tolerated.”
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