The Emeka Beke-led faction of Nigeria's All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised a serious alarm over what it terms a "choreographed legislative coup d'état" unfolding in Rivers State. The faction has urgently called on the state's Chief Judge to adhere to an interim court injunction that restrains him from acting on resolutions passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
A Direct Warning to the Chief Judge
In a strongly-worded statement released on Saturday, 17 January 2026, the party's spokesman, Darlington Nwauju, emphasized the legal imperative. He pointed to Interim Injunction in Suit No. OYHC/7/CS/2026, which explicitly bars the Chief Judge from receiving or acting upon the Assembly's resolutions. These resolutions notably include the notices of alleged gross misconduct served against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Nma Odu.
This warning comes directly in response to confirmations from the State Assembly that the Chief Judge had indeed received and acknowledged the official correspondence containing the impeachment notices. The APC faction views this as a critical juncture that demands strict judicial compliance with the existing court order.
Internal Party Crisis and Call for Intervention
Nwauju described the escalating standoff between the state's executive and legislative arms as "an unfortunate path" that poses a grave threat to the health and survival of the APC in Rivers State. He expressed deep regret that members of the Assembly, including those elected on the APC platform, have "lent themselves to an unfolding, choreographed legislative coup d'état."
The faction is now pressing the party's national leadership to step in without delay. They have called for the activation of internal disciplinary mechanisms available to the National Working Committee under Article 21(b)(iii) of the APC Constitution (2022, as amended). The goal is to avert what they label an "embarrassing situation" for the party, stemming from actions they see as a needless legislative overreach.
Questioning the Subjectivity of 'Gross Misconduct'
While acknowledging the constitutional powers granted to state legislatures under Sections 129 and 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the APC statement challenged the basis of the impeachment move. It argued that the interpretation of "gross misconduct" under Section 188 remains largely subjective and discretionary.
"Paragraph 11 of Section 188 is neither normative nor objective, as what constitutes 'gross misconduct' is left to the discretion of the legislature," the statement clarified. It concluded that, regardless of how the allegations are framed, they remain subjective in the court of public opinion, thereby casting doubt on the legitimacy and motivation behind the impeachment process.
The faction's intervention highlights a deepening political crisis in Rivers State, pitting party members against each other and testing the boundaries of constitutional procedures and party loyalty.
