Some youths under the umbrella of the Ijaw Youth Council have blocked the East-West Road in protest against the impeachment proceedings initiated against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu by the state House of Assembly.
The protesters, who staged canopies, sang, and danced on the busy highway on Tuesday, vowed to resist any attempt to remove Fubara from office, warning of dire consequences for the region and the nation.
The impeachment move, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule and 26 members of the Assembly loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has sparked widespread outrage among Ijaw groups.
The Ijaw National Congress and IYC have condemned the action, describing it as a threat to the political stability of Rivers State and the Niger Delta region.
In early March, INC President, Benjamin Okaba accused the state Assembly of undermining the historical and political sacrifices made by the Ijaw people in shaping Rivers State’s governance.
He warned that any attempt to remove Fubara would be met with fierce resistance, stating, “The Ijaw people will defend Fubara with every pint of blood in their veins.”
The IYC, led by President Theophilus Alaye, also issued a stern warning, urging those behind the impeachment threat to tread carefully.
Alaye described the Supreme Court’s recent judgment, which reinstated the Amaewhule-led Assembly and sacked elected local government chairmen, as “provocative and laughable.”
He called for a review of the judgment, arguing that it had agitated Ijaw youths who have maintained peace in the Niger Delta.
The IYC further threatened to shut down all flow stations in the Niger Delta if the impeachment process proceeds, a move that could cripple the nation’s oil production and economy.
Alaye emphasised that Rivers State, as a major contributor to national revenue, should not be subjected to political instability or economic deprivation.
Meanwhile, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Timi Frank, raised concerns about alleged plans to manipulate the Supreme Court’s judgment.
He accused pro-Wike groups of attempting to introduce issues of defection, currently before the Court of Appeal, into the judgment to undermine ongoing legal battles.
Frank called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Supreme Court justices to uphold the integrity of their ruling.
On Monday, SaharaReporters reported that the Rivers State House of Assembly had called on Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, to respond to allegations of gross misconduct levelled against her.
In a statement issued on Monday, Speaker, Martin Chike Amaewhule, cited Section 188(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates that within 14 days of presenting the notice to the Speaker, the House must decide — without debate —whether the allegations warrant further investigation.
In a notice of allegations of gross misconduct filed by the 26 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, dated March 14, 2025, through the Clerk of the House, the lawmakers accused Odu of acts of gross misconduct in the performance of her official duties.
