Rivers APC In Crisis As Calls For Governor Fubara’s Impeachment Deepen Divisions

Factional Dispute Threatens Stability in Rivers Politics

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is currently embroiled in a deepening crisis following calls for the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The party is divided into two opposing factions, with one side, led by Tony Okocha, demanding Fubara’s resignation or impeachment, while the other, led by Emeka Beke and loyal to former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, dismisses these claims as baseless.

The political standoff intensified as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, along with 26 lawmakers, boycotted a peace meeting convened by Governor Fubara on Monday. Despite the escalating tensions, Fubara assured Rivers residents that the state would overcome its challenges, urging them to remain peaceful and law-abiding.

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Okocha Demands Fubara’s Resignation or Impeachment

At a press briefing in Port Harcourt, Tony Okocha, the factional chairman recognized by the APC national leadership, launched a scathing attack on Governor Fubara, describing him as “clueless” and unfit to govern the state.

“The APC remains the major opposition party in Rivers State. We are the voice of the voiceless. When we said Fubara is clueless, we were not joking. The evidence is clear,” Okocha declared.

He dismissed Fubara’s recent peace meeting with lawmakers as insignificant and criticized the governor for failing to personally sign the invitation letter, calling it an “aberration.”

Okocha further accused Fubara of disrespecting President Bola Tinubu and running the state aground. He insisted that the governor had two options—either resign or face impeachment.

“The options before Fubara are two: he should honorably resign or be impeached because he has mismanaged the state and disrespected Mr. President,” Okocha warned.

Citing the Supreme Court’s findings, he claimed that there were sufficient legal grounds for impeachment, adding, “If he refuses to resign, he will be impeached. I don’t need to be a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly to know the numerous impeachable offences he has committed. There is no government in Rivers State.”

Amaechi’s Loyalists Fire Back, Discredit Okocha

The opposing faction of the APC, led by Emeka Beke and aligned with former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, swiftly dismissed Okocha’s statements.

Darlington Nwauju, the APC Publicity Secretary under Beke, accused Okocha of operating illegally, claiming that the courts had nullified his leadership as caretaker committee chairman.

Nwauju further criticized Okocha for disregarding judicial rulings while accusing others of the same. He questioned Okocha’s authority to speak on legal matters when his own position had been invalidated by the courts.

“If we are not a people suffering from collective amnesia in Rivers State, why must a Tony Okocha, who is still parading himself as chairman of the APC in Rivers against the judgment of court, now be the person pontificating over abuse of or disobedience to court process?” Nwauju queried.

He went on to describe Okocha as a “conflict entrepreneur,” alleging that he was playing a destabilizing role in Rivers State politics.

Political Uncertainty Looms in Rivers State

The ongoing power struggle within the Rivers APC underscores the deep divisions that continue to shape the state’s political landscape. With both factions refusing to back down, the crisis is expected to escalate further, especially as preparations for the 2027 elections begin to take shape.

Governor Fubara’s ability to withstand these mounting pressures will be crucial in determining the political future of Rivers State. Meanwhile, the APC at the national level faces the challenge of managing the internal discord to prevent further fragmentation within its ranks.

As the battle for political dominance in Rivers State rages on, residents and stakeholders are left wondering whether the crisis will lead to genuine governance reforms or further instability in one of Nigeria’s most politically volatile states.