The political landscape in Rivers State has taken a dramatic turn as Tony Okocha, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, has issued a bold ultimatum to Governor Siminalayi Fubara: resign or face impeachment. This call came during a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Monday, March 10, 2025, amid escalating tensions between the governor and the state’s political stakeholders. Okocha’s remarks signal a deepening crisis in Rivers State, one that could have far-reaching implications for both the state and the broader Nigerian political scene.
Okocha’s demand stems from what he perceives as a deliberate act of disrespect by Governor Fubara toward President Bola Tinubu and a flagrant violation of the rule of law. Central to this accusation is Fubara’s recent invitation to 27 state lawmakers for a meeting—an action Okocha dismissed as a “Greek gift,” a deceptive gesture masked as goodwill. According to Okocha, this move undermines a Supreme Court judgment, which he considers final and binding. “There is nothing anybody can do about it,” he asserted, suggesting that Fubara’s actions are an affront to judicial authority and established political norms.
The APC chairman’s rhetoric paints a picture of a governor who has overstepped his bounds, leaving resignation or impeachment as the only viable resolutions. This stance raises questions about the underlying power dynamics in Rivers State, where political loyalty, legal interpretations, and personal ambitions often collide. Okocha’s invocation of President Tinubu’s name adds a national dimension to the conflict, implying that Fubara’s actions could strain relations between the state and the federal government, led by the APC.
For observers, this development highlights the fragility of political stability in Rivers State, a region long known for its high-stakes political maneuvering. Fubara, who has yet to publicly respond to Okocha’s ultimatum, faces a critical juncture in his tenure. Will he bow to pressure and step down, or will he dig in, risking a bruising impeachment battle? The Supreme Court judgment referenced by Okocha—though unspecified in detail—appears to be the linchpin of this dispute, and its interpretation could determine the governor’s fate.
As this saga unfolds, Rivers State residents and political watchers alike await the next move. What is clear is that Okocha and the APC are drawing a line in the sand, setting the stage for a showdown that could reshape the state’s leadership and test the resilience of Nigeria‘s democratic institutions.
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