Rivers APC urges Chief Judge Simeon Amadi to respect court injunction restraining him from acting on impeachment resolutions against Governor Fubara

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 restraining him from receiving or acting on any resolution of the Rivers State House of Assembly concerning the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu.

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The call was made in a statement issued on Saturday in Port Harcourt by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Darlington Nwauju, and made available to journalists.

The appeal followed a directive by the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, during Friday’s plenary, instructing the Chief Judge to constitute a seven-man panel to investigate allegations of misconduct against the governor and his deputy.

The directive came after lawmakers resolved to proceed with impeachment, accusing Governor Fubara of disregarding the Assembly while appeals and interventions were ongoing.

However, a Rivers State High Court sitting in Oyibo Local Government Area on Friday issued an interim injunction restraining the Speaker, the Clerk of the House, and others from forwarding any correspondence to the Chief Judge on the matter.

In the ruling, Justice F. A. Fiberesima also barred Justice Amadi from receiving, considering, or acting on any request, resolution, articles of impeachment, or related documents from the Assembly for the purpose of constituting a probe panel for a period of seven days.

The case was adjourned to January 23, 2026, for hearing of the motion on notice.

Reacting to the development, Nwauju, who spoke with the backing of former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, expressed concern that lawmakers—many of whom are APC members—had chosen to proceed with what he described as a “legislative coup d’état” against the collective interest of the party in the state.

He warned that the move could have serious consequences for the APC’s survival in Rivers State.

“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,” the statement said.

“Regrettably, we note that honourable members who trumpeted loyalty to our party and Mr President have now given themselves to a choreographed legislative coup d’état against the collective interest, growth and development of our party in the state.”

While acknowledging that Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) empowers the legislature to carry out impeachment proceedings, Nwauju argued that what constitutes “gross misconduct” remains subjective and open to political interpretation.

“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,” he added.

The APC spokesman further called on the party’s national leadership to intervene urgently by activating internal mechanisms to prevent what he described as an impending embarrassment for the ruling party.

“We call on the Honourable Chief Judge of Rivers State to respect the interim injunction in Suit No: OYHC/7/CS/2026, which restrained him from receiving or acting on the resolutions of the Rivers State House of Assembly,” the statement read.

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He also urged the National Working Committee of the APC to invoke relevant provisions of the party’s constitution to address the crisis and safeguard the party’s unity and image in Rivers State.