Impeachment: APC Has Betrayed Gov Fubara — ADC Chieftain

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Austin Okai, has described the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, as a betrayal by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Okai also alleged that some elements within the Presidency had misled the governor by failing to intervene in the impeachment process.

Speaking exclusively with newsmen, Okai said Fubara was facing serious political challenges, insisting that the APC had abandoned him despite expectations of support.

“Fubara is having problems; APC has betrayed him. If the Presidency is protecting him as some people made him believe, by now the whole impeachment process should have died down,” he said.

According to him, the governor’s resort to the courts for relief shows that his political survival now rests on the judiciary.

“He has gone to a local court for survival; his hope is hanging on the judiciary. The Presidency has scammed him. He cannot even control his own House of Assembly members. A sitting governor who does not have control of his own Assembly,” Okai added.

The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Dekina/Bassa Federal Constituency said the impeachment plot was designed to ensure that Fubara serves only one term in office.

He noted that as an APC governor, Fubara ought to have been supported by the party hierarchy.

“I expected that by now APC should have called the Assembly members to order because he is the leader of the party in the state. But maybe they don’t need him,” Okai said.

He further questioned the party’s preference, asking whether the APC would rather align with former Governor Nyesom Wike instead of backing Fubara.

“It’s a matter of choice at this moment. What does APC want?” he queried.

Meanwhile, a Rivers elder statesman, Wenendah Wali, said it was difficult to determine whether the impeachment move against the governor would succeed.

Speaking with InfoStride News, Wali said impeachment is a constitutional process governed by clearly defined stages that limit speculation.

“In Nigerian politics, one plus one is not always two. A lot of funny things happen,” he said.

Wali explained that the outcome of the process now rests largely with the Chief Judge of the state and any investigative panel that may be constituted.

“Everything squarely depends on the Chief Judge and the panel he constitutes. If they find that the governor breached the grounds for impeachment, their decision will be final and binding,” he said.

He added that until the Chief Judge decides whether to set up a panel, all other discussions remain speculative, stressing that while the House of Assembly appears determined, the final outcome is still uncertain.