INC Condemns Moves to Impeach Rivers Governor Fubara

The Ijaw National Congress has stated that the people of Rivers State are opposed to the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, cautioning the state House of Assembly, which it claims is aligned with former governor Nyesom Wike, to abandon the plan.

In the same vein, the Rivers State Elders and Leaders Council strongly criticised the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly for pressing ahead with impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu.

Both groups warned that the impeachment effort is bound to collapse, accusing the lawmakers of hiding personal ambitions behind constitutional processes. The INC described the move as a wasted effort and expressed disappointment in legislators of Ijaw origin who have openly backed the impeachment despite Governor Fubara being an Ijaw son.

Speaking in a telephone interview, INC President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, described the actions of some Assembly members as a betrayal, noting that public opposition to the impeachment is growing both within and outside Rivers State. According to him, the process is driven by vendetta rather than a genuine concern for democracy, development, or good governance, with personal interests placed above those of the state.

Okaba also criticised four lawmakers who initially distanced themselves from the impeachment only to reverse their stance within two days, saying their actions exposed a lack of principle. He insisted that the lawmakers claiming to speak for the Ijaw people were doing so without consulting their constituents and therefore could not represent the collective position of the Ijaw nation.

He further condemned what he described as the acceptance of public benefits by the lawmakers while pursuing the impeachment, alleging that some of them received luxury vehicles valued at about ₦350 million despite being under suspension. According to him, such actions further demonstrate that the impeachment drive is motivated by self-interest.

The INC president accused the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, of masterminding the impeachment in a bid to advance his own political ambitions, urging him to wait his turn and seek office through proper electoral means rather than undermining democratic institutions.

Okaba also questioned the inclusion of Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Odu in the impeachment process, stressing that she had committed no offence that would justify such action. He warned that allowing the impeachment to succeed would significantly damage Nigeria’s democratic progress.

Backing the INC’s stance, Anabs Sara-Igbe of the Rivers State Elders and Leaders Council described the impeachment attempt as an embarrassment to President Bola Tinubu and the people of Rivers State. He accused the lawmakers of ingratitude and argued that their actions were aimed at stalling development rather than holding the governor accountable.

Sara-Igbe also faulted the legislators for allegedly disregarding the emergency rule previously imposed in the state and claimed they had benefited financially during the period. He maintained that the impeachment was not an attack on Governor Fubara alone but on the collective will of Rivers people, warning that the state would respond appropriately.

He further criticised Minister Nyesom Wike for what he described as premature political campaigning disguised as appreciation visits, challenging those behind the impeachment to publish any agreement Governor Fubara was accused of breaching. According to him, Rivers residents remain firmly behind Fubara’s bid for a second term.

Sara-Igbe warned that persisting with the impeachment could destabilise Rivers State, the Niger Delta, and the country at large, predicting that the process would eventually collapse once an investigative panel clears the governor. He concluded by cautioning that continued attempts to impeach the governor would only worsen tensions and ultimately fail.

These warnings by the INC and Rivers elders come amid heightened political tension in the state, where the impeachment process has deepened divisions within the House of Assembly and intensified debate over governance, accountability, and political ambition.