The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Amadi, to respect an interim court injunction barring him from acting on any resolution of the Rivers State House of Assembly relating to the ongoing impeachment process.
The party’s position was made known by its Publicity Secretary in the state, Darlington Nwauju, in a statement released in Port Harcourt on Saturday.
The warning followed a directive by the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, during Friday’s plenary, asking the Chief Judge to constitute a seven-man panel to investigate allegations against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu.
Lawmakers had earlier resolved to initiate impeachment proceedings, accusing the governor of disregarding the Assembly despite appeals and interventions from various stakeholders.
However, a Rivers State High Court sitting in Oyibo Local Government Area intervened on Friday, issuing an interim injunction restraining the Speaker, the Clerk of the House, and others from forwarding any correspondence to the Chief Judge.
In the ruling delivered by Justice F. A. Fiberesima, the court further restrained Justice Amadi from receiving, considering, or acting on any request, resolution, impeachment articles, or related communication from the lawmakers for the purpose of constituting a panel to probe the alleged misconduct of the governor and his deputy. The order is to subsist for seven days.
The matter was adjourned to January 23, 2026, for hearing of the motion on notice.
Reacting, the APC spokesman, with the support of former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, expressed concern that the lawmakers—most of whom are members of the ruling party—had embarked on what he described as a “legislative coup d’état” against the party’s collective interest in the state.
Nwauju warned that the development could damage the APC’s stability and long-term survival in Rivers State if not urgently addressed.
The statement partly read:
“We have painstakingly analysed the issues leading up to the latest step taken by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to proceed with the impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu.”
He accused the lawmakers of abandoning party loyalty and engaging in what he described as a choreographed move against the APC, warning that the action amounted to legislative overreach.
While acknowledging that the legislature has constitutional powers to impeach under Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Nwauju noted that the interpretation of “gross misconduct” remains subjective and open to political manipulation.
“Thus, no matter how beautifully crafted the allegations against the governor and his deputy may be, they remain largely subjective in the court of public opinion,” the statement said.
The APC spokesman also urged the party’s national leadership to intervene swiftly to prevent embarrassment and internal collapse.
“This unfortunate path chosen by the legislative arm therefore serves as a dangerous footnote to the health and survival of the APC in Rivers State,” he warned.
He concluded by calling on the Chief Judge to strictly comply with the interim injunction in Suit No: OYHC/7/CS/2026 and appealed to the APC National Working Committee to activate internal disciplinary mechanisms under Article 21(b)(iii) of the party’s constitution.
