By Amah
Kindly share:
Two members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have withdrawn their support for the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, deepening divisions within the legislature.
The Minority Leader of the House and member representing Omuma State Constituency, Sylvanus Nwankwo, alongside Peter Abbey, who represents Degema Constituency, announced their decision at a press conference in Port Harcourt on Monday.
The lawmakers appealed to their colleagues to halt the impeachment process and seek a political resolution, saying their change of position followed sustained interventions from elders and leaders within and outside the state.
“Rivers State issued a notice of impeachment on Governor Fubara and his deputy. We appeal to our fellow colleagues to temper justice with mercy and see how this matter can be resolved without resorting to impeachment,” they said.
According to them, while there may be constitutional issues involved, dialogue remains a preferable path. “Having listened to several calls from our elders and leaders, we are begging our colleagues to reconsider our steps and explore an amicable solution, even though the governor and his deputy are alleged to have infringed on the Constitution,” the duo added.
Recall that the Rivers State House of Assembly had last Thursday served impeachment notices on Governor Fubara and his deputy over allegations of gross misconduct.
The latest development has further exposed cracks within the Assembly, coming less than 24 hours after reports that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had returned to Abuja following a visit to Rivers State.
Reacting to the unfolding situation, political analyst Arc Uche Rochas sharply criticised Wike, who has been widely alleged to wield influence over the impeachment push. Rochas described the development as a political setback for the former Rivers governor.
In a strongly worded statement, Rochas said Wike had overplayed his hand politically, claiming he had “cornered himself” and lost relevance in the unfolding power contest in the state.
The impeachment saga continues to generate intense political tension in Rivers State, with growing calls from stakeholders for restraint, dialogue, and de-escalation as uncertainty looms over the next steps of the Assembly.
