The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has strongly condemned the renewed impeachment moves against Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, describing the action as a serious threat to democracy, peace, and stability in the state and the wider Niger Delta region.
In a statement issued on Friday in Yenagoa and signed by its President, Professor Benjamin Okaba, the apex Ijaw socio-cultural organisation said the impeachment process, resumed by the Rivers State House of Assembly, represents the third such attempt since 2023 and reflects what it termed a cycle of political vendetta.
The INC said the development goes beyond ethnic considerations and should be seen as a test of Nigeria’s democratic institutions, stressing that issues cited in the impeachment notice, including allegations bordering on budgetary spending and appointments, are governance matters that should be resolved through due process rather than impeachment.
According to the group, the renewed crisis follows the collapse of a peace agreement brokered by President Bola Tinubu in June 2025 to resolve the political rift between Governor Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
While acknowledging that the Assembly cited Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution in initiating the impeachment process, the INC expressed concern over what it described as the speed and context of the proceedings, warning that impeachment should not be deployed as a political weapon.
The Congress noted that opposition to the impeachment has cut across party lines in Rivers State, with politicians from both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reportedly calling for the process to be discontinued.
The INC called on President Tinubu to intervene decisively, urging him to use his moral authority to uphold constitutional democracy and ensure neutrality in handling the Rivers crisis. It warned that perceived bias or favoritism by the Federal Government could further destabilise the Niger Delta, a region critical to Nigeria’s economy.
The group also cautioned against actions it said could inflame tensions, including provocative statements by political actors and any attempt to withhold Rivers State’s statutory federal allocations, describing such a move as unconstitutional and capable of provoking widespread unrest.
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In an appeal to Ijaw people and residents of Rivers State, the INC urged calm and restraint, advising against violence or destruction of property. It called for peaceful civic engagement, dialogue, and a renewed focus on governance, warning that prolonged political warfare would undermine development projects and public welfare.
The Congress further emphasised that it remains the only body authorised to speak for the Ijaw nation, distancing itself from statements by other groups claiming to represent Ijaw interests in the Rivers crisis, which it described as misleading.
The INC appealed to both the executive and legislative arms of government in Rivers State to work together in the interest of peace and development, insisting that the people deserve stability rather than political instability.
The organisation said it would continue to monitor developments closely and would take all lawful and constitutional steps necessary to protect the rights of the Ijaw people and ensure that democratic governance prevails.