The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has cautioned suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara that his only path to avoiding impeachment is through sincere reconciliation with the state’s lawmakers.
According to a report by The Punch, the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, Tony Okocha, stated on Tuesday in Abuja that Fubara has not taken any meaningful steps towards peace.
“Only genuine reconciliation can save him from impeachment, as the Supreme Court judgment stands,” Okocha said.
He confirmed that no reconciliation efforts are currently underway in Rivers State. Okocha noted that Fubara has not made any move to engage with the elected lawmakers.
The APC’s warning came as several youth groups in Rivers State called on President Bola Tinubu to restore democratic governance and reinstate Fubara. This appeal is gaining attention as the country prepares to mark Democracy Day on June 12.
On March 18, 2025, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Odu, and the state House of Assembly. Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) was appointed as the sole administrator for six months.
The suspension followed an extended political conflict between former Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Fubara.
While the Peoples Democratic Party governors have challenged the President’s action in court, recent meetings involving Tinubu, Wike, and Fubara signalled possible discussions toward peace.
Okocha stressed that even if Fubara chooses to join the APC, it would not protect him from accountability.
“If Fubara decides to join the APC, it has nothing to do with the state of emergency in Rivers State. His sins cannot be forgiven because he came to our party,” Okocha said.
He made it clear that the APC would not serve as a safe space for politicians facing misconduct allegations. According to him, proper procedures must be followed for anyone seeking to defect to another party.
He added, “You will jump into APC today and your sins are forgiven? That cannot be true. It won’t work that way. He will enter the party through the door, not the window.”
Okocha further explained that defection should begin at the ward level and proceed through the proper political channels. So far, he said, no information has reached the APC about Fubara attempting to join the party.
When asked about Fubara’s recent meeting with President Tinubu, Okocha said the APC was not concerned. He noted that political figures visiting the President, especially during Sallah celebrations, is not unusual.
Meanwhile, youth groups under the South-South Youths Initiative and the Coalition of Rivers State Youth Bodies condemned the suspension of Fubara. They described the action as reckless and unconstitutional in a joint statement issued on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.
“As we commemorate Democracy Day on June 12, we reflect on the significance of democratic governance and the rule of law in our nation. However, recent events in Rivers State have raised concerns about the health of our democracy,” the statement read.
The statement, signed by Imeabe Oscar, the National President of the South-South Youths Initiative and Chairman of the Coalition of Rivers State Youth Bodies, called on President Tinubu to urgently restore democratic order by reinstating the suspended elected officials.
Article updated 3 weeks ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
