The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, has issued a stern ultimatum to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, urging him to either resign or face impeachment.
Okocha made this declaration during a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Monday, following Fubara’s invitation to pro-Wike members of the Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) for a meeting.
The APC chairman described the invitation as a “Greek gift” and accused the governor of abusing the rule of law.
The political crisis in Rivers State has escalated in recent months, with the governor at odds with 27 lawmakers loyal to his former political ally, Nyesom Wike.
On Monday, Fubara invited these lawmakers to a meeting at the Government House, Port Harcourt, shortly after the expiration of a 48-hour ultimatum for him to present the 2025 budget.
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The lawmakers had also demanded the removal of commissioners and board members who were not screened by the Assembly and summoned the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for questioning.
In response to the invitation, Okocha accused Fubara of disregarding the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Assembly crisis. He asserted that the judgment was final and that the governor had no choice but to step down or be impeached.
“The invitation to the lawmakers is a Greek gift. The Supreme Court judgment is final. There is nothing anybody can do about it. The only option available to the governor now is for him to resign or be impeached,” Okocha declared.
This is not the first time Okocha has called for Fubara’s removal. In 2023, during the height of the Assembly crisis, he accused the governor of overstepping his constitutional boundaries by attempting to delegitimize elected lawmakers.
He reaffirmed this stance during the recent press briefing, stating that the APC has directed members of the RSHA to begin impeachment proceedings against Fubara.
“We have directed members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to commence the impeachment process of a comatose government. The governor does not respect the law and does anything he pleases. We will not sit here as Rivers people and watch our state become a laughing stock. Rivers State cannot afford a leader who does not know his left from his right,” Okocha said.
He further criticized Fubara’s governance, alleging that he has sidelined the legislature and is running the state without adherence to due process. According to him, the governor’s actions amount to dictatorship and undermine the democratic structure of the state.
“The governor has rewritten the political rulebook by declaring the Assembly non-existent. The Nigerian Constitution clearly recognizes three arms of government – the Executive, Judiciary, and Legislature – and ensures a separation of powers. By ignoring the Assembly, the governor is running an autocratic system, which is unacceptable,” he added.
Okocha warned that failure to act against Fubara’s alleged constitutional breaches would have serious consequences for the state. He reiterated the APC’s resolve to hold the governor accountable and ensure the rule of law prevails in Rivers State.
With political tensions at an all-time high, the fate of Governor Fubara remains uncertain as the Rivers State House of Assembly considers the next steps in response to Okocha’s impeachment call.
