INC SOUNDS ALARM OVER RIVERS IMPEACHMENT PLOT, WARNS OF DEMOCRATIC BREAKDOWN

The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has raised strong objections to the ongoing impeachment moves against Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, describing the process as a dangerous escalation that threatens democratic governance and regional stability.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the apex socio-cultural body of the Ijaw nation said the impeachment proceedings before the Rivers State House of Assembly mark the third such attempt since 2023, a trend it described as troubling and unsustainable. The INC warned that repeated efforts to unseat elected leaders through political pressure rather than lawful dialogue could plunge the state into prolonged instability.

Signed by the INC President, Professor Benjamin Okaba, the statement stressed that the organisation’s position goes beyond ethnic sentiment, framing the crisis as a national democratic concern. “This is not just about Rivers State or the Ijaw people; it is a critical test of Nigeria’s commitment to constitutional order,” the statement noted.

The INC argued that the allegations cited by the lawmakers ranging from budgetary matters to executive appointments are routine governance issues that should be addressed through established legal and institutional mechanisms. According to the group, resorting to impeachment under such circumstances amounts to what it termed the “weaponisation” of a constitutional process.

The statement also linked the renewed impeachment threat to the breakdown of a peace agreement brokered by President Bola Tinubu in June 2025, which was intended to resolve the political rift between Governor Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. It added that opposition to the impeachment has cut across party lines, with voices within both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State urging restraint.

Reaffirming its leadership role, the INC declared that it aligns fully with earlier calls by its Eastern Zone and the Ijaw Youth Council for calm and de-escalation. It also stated unequivocally that no other group, including the Rivers People’s Congress, has the mandate to represent or negotiate on behalf of the Ijaw nation.

The organisation concluded with an appeal to both the executive and legislative arms of government in Rivers State to prioritize dialogue and cooperation over confrontation. It urged political actors to consider the welfare of ordinary citizens, warning that continued hostilities could undermine peace, development, and democratic stability in the state and beyond.