We’re mulling impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara – APC

• Okocha said the party would protect the 27 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers who defected to the APC with all its might, warning the governor to eschew illegality

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says initiating impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers is not out of the equation.

Speaking while addressing newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, Tony Okocha, the state APC Caretaker Committee chairman, accused Fubara of constitutional infringements

“Although I am not a member of the state House of Assembly, impeachment is a democratic process. Impeachment is not a coup de tat,” he said.

Okocha said the party would protect the 27 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers who defected to the APC with all its might, warning the governor to eschew illegality.

“So, we are telling the governor that he cannot thrive on illegality; we will petition the judge before the National Judicial Council (NJC) for giving that jankara order against our members.

“So we want to appeal to our party to join us to defend our members who are being ill-treated by the Rivers House of Assembly,” he said.

Speaking on the demolition of the state House of Assembly complex, Mr Okocha said the APC would not allow illegality to thrive in Rivers.

He added that the defected lawmakers would continue to meet elsewhere so long as they had the mace, which symbolised authority with them.

“You cannot place something on nothing and expect it to stand. Illegality is illegal.

“Let me also let you know that what makes an assembly is not the structure but the human beings in that assembly.

“So, an assembly can be moved anywhere, provided the mace, which is its symbol of authority, is there. As of yesterday, about 27 members sat and took far-reaching decisions on state matters,” he said.

He said the APC had the majority members at the House of Assembly, having 27 of its 32 members.

Okocha said this was in line with the mandate given to the party’s national secretariat to reach out to members of opposition parties in the state.

“We will fight illegality; we will not allow illegality to fester in our state. It is our duty now to defend our 27 members who are members of the State Assembly,” he stated.