APC Leaders Call on National Assembly to Take Over Rivers Assembly

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have called on the National Assembly to assume the legislative functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly, citing what they described as a breakdown of constitutional order in the state.

The call followed renewed efforts by the Rivers Assembly to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu. The APC Leaders Forum described the impeachment move as unfounded and politically driven, warning that it posed a threat to democratic governance in Rivers State.

The crisis deepened last Friday when the House of Assembly wrote to the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, requesting the constitution of a seven-member judicial panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against the governor and his deputy. The Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, maintained that impeachment was necessary to resolve the ongoing political dispute.

However, on Thursday, Justice Amadi declined to set up the panel, citing existing court orders that restrained him from taking further action on the matter.

In a statement issued after the decision, members of the APC Leaders Forum said the Assembly had lost public trust due to what they described as repeated misuse of legislative powers. The statement was jointly signed by Ibrahim Danjuma, National Leader of the forum; Akpan Ekpeyong, National Secretary; and civil society leaders Ifeanyi Okorie, Maryann Douglas, and Collins Akpofure.

“Rivers State is facing a serious constitutional crisis,” the statement said. “What is unfolding goes beyond legislative oversight and amounts to an abuse of authority. The allegations against Governor Fubara are neither supported by law nor by facts.”

The forum urged the national leadership of the APC to oppose the impeachment process and take steps to protect democratic institutions. It also accused 27 lawmakers aligned with former governor Nyesom Wike of mismanaging state resources for political purposes.

The group further called on the National Assembly to take over the legislative responsibilities of the Rivers Assembly, arguing that such an intervention was necessary to stabilise governance in the state.

Meanwhile, the High Court sitting in Oyigbo, Port Harcourt, has adjourned indefinitely a suit filed by Governor Fubara and his deputy challenging the impeachment process. The presiding judge, Justice Fiberesima, adjourned the case sine die after being informed of two separate appeals already before the Court of Appeal.

Counsel to the Speaker and the 27 lawmakers, S. I. Amen, SAN, had applied orally for a stay of proceedings pending appeal. The application was not opposed by counsel to the claimants and other defendants.

Separately, the Rivers State chapter of the APC commended the presidency for affirming Governor Fubara as the party’s leader in the state. The state APC chairman, Chief Emeka Beke, called on the governor to convene an urgent stakeholders’ meeting to address internal party issues.

APC Publicity Secretary in the state, Dalington Nwauju, said President Bola Tinubu had reiterated the party’s position that a sitting governor serves as the party leader at the state level. He also renewed calls for the resignation of the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, over comments related to the impeachment process.

Nwauju urged the party’s National Working Committee to organise congresses at ward, local government, and state levels to resolve leadership disputes. Rivers APC is currently divided into two factions, one led by Emeka Beke and another by Tony Okocha, which is recognised by the national leadership.