INC condemns escalating Rivers crisis, impeachment threat against Fubara
The Ijaw National Congress (INC), the apex socio-cultural organisation of the Ijaw nation worldwide, has condemned the deepening political crisis in Rivers State and the renewed impeachment threat against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
In a statement issued on Friday by its Global President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, the INC described the impeachment move as “a grave threat to democracy, peace and stability” in Rivers State and the wider Niger Delta region.
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INC condemns escalating Rivers crisis, impeachment threat against Fubara
Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa
The Ijaw National Congress (INC), the apex socio-cultural organisation of the Ijaw nation worldwide, has condemned the deepening political crisis in Rivers State and the renewed impeachment threat against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
In a statement issued on Friday by its Global President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, the INC described the impeachment move as “a grave threat to democracy, peace and stability” in Rivers State and the wider Niger Delta region.
Okaba said the statement was in response to the resumption of impeachment proceedings by the Rivers State House of Assembly against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu.
“The INC categorically and unequivocally condemns this impeachment move as a serious danger to democracy, peace and stability in Rivers State and the Niger Delta,” he said.
According to him, the latest attempt marks the third impeachment move against the governor since 2023, describing it as evidence of a persistent cycle of political vendetta that must be halted.
“We stand firmly with the people of Rivers State and all defenders of constitutional order in rejecting this dangerous gambit. This crisis represents a fundamental threat to democracy and is not merely an Ijaw issue, but a national democratic concern,” Okaba stated.
He noted that the allegations cited by the House of Assembly, including issues relating to budgetary spending and gubernatorial appointments, were governance matters that should be addressed through lawful and due process, rather than what he described as the “weaponisation” of impeachment.
Okaba further observed that the renewed impeachment threat followed the collapse of a peace agreement brokered by President Bola Tinubu in June 2025 to resolve the political feud between Governor Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
While acknowledging that the Assembly referenced Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution, Okaba said the speed and context of the process raised serious concerns about fairness and suggested it was being used as a political tool rather than a constitutional check on executive power.
He added that opposition to the impeachment cut across party lines, noting that prominent figures within both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state had also called for the process to be discontinued.
The INC called on President Tinubu to intervene decisively in his capacity as “the father of the nation”, urging him to use his moral authority to protect constitutional democracy in Rivers State.
According to Okaba, repeated impeachment threats against a sitting governor, even after presidential intervention, undermine the stability the presidency seeks to promote.
He also reiterated calls by Niger Delta leaders for the Federal Government to handle the crisis with neutrality and fairness, stressing that the peace and economic stability of the Niger Delta—critical to the national economy—depend on the Federal Government being seen as an impartial arbiter.
Okaba warned against any attempt to use federal institutions to withhold statutory allocations to Rivers State, describing such a move as unconstitutional and capable of provoking serious national consequences.
He urged Ijaw people and residents of Rivers State to remain peaceful and law-abiding, cautioning against actions that could lead to violence or destruction of property.
“Stand firm for democratic principles through peaceful civic engagement and lawful advocacy. Development projects initiated by the state government must not be sacrificed on the altar of politics,” he said.
The INC also called on all stakeholders to return to genuine dialogue, noting that previous suspensions and states of emergency had failed to deliver lasting peace.
“This is a time to demand governance, not endless political warfare,” Okaba said, urging the Rivers State House of Assembly to focus on its legislative and oversight responsibilities while allowing the executive to serve the electorate.
He appealed to both the executive and legislative arms of government in the state to work together in the interest of peace, development and stability. “The INC remains committed to the unity, peace and progress of Nigeria. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and take all legitimate and constitutional steps to ensure that democracy prevails and the rights of the people of Rivers State are protected,” he added.
