Governor Siminalayi Fubara is facing renewed political pressure as the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding his resignation or threatening impeachment.
Speaking at a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Monday, March 10, Okocha accused Fubara of disrespecting President Bola Tinubu and violating the Nigerian Constitution. He further alleged that the governor insulted Tinubu while the president was working to mediate the political turmoil in the state.
“The Supreme Court judgment is final; there is nothing anyone can do about it. The only available option for the governor now is to resign or face impeachment,” Okocha declared. His remarks came in response to Fubara’s invitation to the state House of Assembly for dialogue.
On Sunday, March 9, Governor Fubara extended an invitation to the Martins Amaewhule-led Assembly members for discussions, with the meeting scheduled for Monday, March 10, at the Governor’s Office in Port Harcourt. The invitation, signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, followed the recent Supreme Court ruling that recognized Amaewhule as the legitimate Speaker of the House.
According to the invitation letter, the meeting aimed to address several issues, including securing a suitable venue for Assembly sittings, the payment of outstanding remunerations and allowances for members, the presentation of the 2025 budget, and other matters critical to the state’s governance.
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of the Amaewhule-led Assembly, the House had previously given Governor Fubara a 48-hour deadline, on Monday, March 3, to re-present the 2025 budget.
In response, the state government stated that it had not received any formal communication regarding the ultimatum. A letter dated March 5 and addressed to Speaker Amaewhule, signed by the Secretary to the State Government, noted that the administration only became aware of the ultimatum through social media. The letter further explained that as of the close of business on March 4, neither the offices of the governor, the deputy governor, nor the accountant general had received any official correspondence on the matter.
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The Supreme Court judgment reinstated Amaewhule and his faction as the legitimate members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, effectively nullifying the previous budget presentation made by Governor Fubara to a rival Assembly faction.
Meanwhile, concerns have emerged regarding judicial consistency in handling Rivers State-related cases. Odinkalu highlighted that While the Supreme Court swiftly ruled on cases linked to the faction loyal to Nyesom Wike, other key cases remain unresolved. One such case, filed in April 2024 to determine the impact of political defections, saw the Amaewhule faction secure victory through a different legal route. However, the primary defection case that could have settled the dispute once and for all is still awaiting a ruling at the Federal High Court, despite the Supreme Court already addressing the broader issue.
