The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has appealed to the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Amadi, to abide by an interim court order barring him from taking any action on resolutions from the Rivers State House of Assembly connected to impeachment proceedings.
Factional Publicity Secretary of the party, Darlington Nwauju made this known in a statement released in Port Harcourt on Saturday.
The development follows a directive issued by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, during Friday’s sitting, asking the Chief Judge to set up a seven-member panel to investigate allegations levelled against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu.
Meanwhile, a Rivers State High Court sitting in Oyibo Local Government Area had earlier on Friday granted an interim injunction restraining the Speaker, the Clerk of the House and other parties from transmitting any impeachment-related communication to the Chief Judge.
In the ruling delivered by Justice F. A. Fiberesima, the court also prohibited Justice Amadi from receiving, considering or acting on any request, resolution or document from the House aimed at constituting an investigative panel for a period of seven days. The case was adjourned to January 23, 2026, for a hearing on the motion, which was previously noticed.
Reacting to the situation, Nwauju, with the support of former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, expressed concern over the actions of the lawmakers, describing them as damaging to the party’s interests in the state. He warned that the move could undermine the party’s unity and future in Rivers State.
According to him, the Assembly members, many of whom belong to the ruling party, had embarked on what he described as a coordinated legislative takeover that runs contrary to the party’s collective interest, despite their previous declarations of loyalty.
While acknowledging that the legislature is empowered by Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to carry out impeachment, Nwauju argued that what constitutes “gross misconduct” is largely subjective and open to political interpretation, regardless of how the allegations are framed.
