APC: Fubara calling for impeachment, party’s lawmakers’ seats valid

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied calling for the impeachment of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara amidst the political crisis in the state.

The APC said Fubara has been engaging in actions to elicit his removal from office as the governor of Rivers State.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had, at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, said 27 APC members of the Rivers State House of Assembly can’t impeach Fubara because they are no longer members of the House.

Reacting, APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, in a statement on Friday, May 10, said: “Contrary to PDP’s assertions, it is not APC that is calling for the impeachment of Governor Fubara. Rather, by his egregious actions, conduct and infantile comments, Fubara is actively and vehemently precipitating his own impeachment.

“Governor Fubara’s declaration that the Rivers State House of Assembly does not exist is not only reckless, it is a direct affront to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The House of Assembly is a creation of the Constitution, and vested with the legislative authority of the state. The members of the Assembly were elected by the good people of Rivers state in the same manner that Fubara was elected Governor.

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“The Assembly does not exist at the Governor’s pleasure or fanciful whims. The legislature is at the core of the idea of democracy. It is co-equal with the executive and judicial arms of government.

“The constitutionally entrenched principle of separation of powers among the three arms of government guarantees essential checks and balances required to ensure observance of the rule of law. The rule of law is indispensable to democracy and constitutional order.

“If his declaration that the House of Assembly is nonexistent is based on the fact that the 27 members who decamped from PDP to APC have lost their seats, then Governor Fubara is sorely misled.”

Morka noted that the governor’s attack on the House and its leadership was in disrespect of the court order and a violation of the provisions of the Constitution.

The APC spokesman stated: “His demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex remains one of the most brazen attacks on democratic institutions in our nation’s history. And there is now grave apprehension that he may be spoiling to demolish the House of Assembly residential quarters in Port Harcourt, built only two years ago, following his recent gestapo-like invasion of the Assembly quarters.

“Governor Fubara’s weaponization of demolition of public assets as a strategy to dislodge and punish legitimate members of the legislature is nothing short of petty despotism and must be roundly condemned.

“The power of the purse resides in the legislature. If, indeed, the House of Assembly does not exist, as Governor Fubara has declared, then the Governor must necessarily shut down the entire government of Rivers State, especially the office of the Governor, as he lacks the authority to expend public resources without valid appropriations by the legislature.

“We strongly counsel Governor Fubara to submit himself to the dictates of the Constitution and the rule of law. In any and all contests between Governor Fubara and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Constitution shall prevail, always. The good people of Rivers State deserve so much more than the seemingly unending chicanery of Governor Fubara.”

The Star