By Amah
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Fresh twists emerged on Friday in the Rivers State political crisis, as four members of the House of Assembly who had earlier withdrawn from the impeachment move against Governor Siminalayi Fubara announced a return to the process, effectively reviving the stalled action.
The lawmakers, Minority Leader Sylvanus Nwankwo, Peter Abbey representing Degema, Barile Nwakoh of Khana I, and Emilia Amadi from Obio/Akpor II, made the announcement during a live address from the Assembly premises.
Only days earlier, the quartet had appealed for calm, urging political dialogue and reconciliation, as a pathway to resolving the deepening rift between the executive and the legislature.
On Friday, however, they said circumstances had changed.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Nwankwo explained that their initial withdrawal was motivated by a genuine desire to de-escalate tensions in the state.
According to him, the expectation was that the governor and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, would open channels of engagement with the Assembly.
He alleged that instead of dialogue, the executive continued what he described as sustained public and media criticism of the legislature, a development he said shut the door on any realistic prospects of reconciliation.
Nwankwo said he and Abbey, therefore, resolved that allowing the impeachment process to proceed was the only remaining constitutional option.
Nwakoh and Amadi also confirmed their alignment with the decision, insisting that efforts at political compromise had failed due to what they perceived as the executive’s unwillingness to engage.
The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, had initiated impeachment proceedings over allegations of gross misconduct, including the demolition of the Assembly complex and the alleged use of public funds without legislative authorisation.
Between Monday and midweek, the four lawmakers had stepped away from the impeachment, citing the need to protect peace and stability in the state. Their return to the process has now shifted the balance within the House.
On Friday, Assembly members maintained that the impeachment move is lawful and necessary to resolve the ongoing constitutional impasse between the two arms of government.
With the lawmakers’ reversal, the impeachment effort has regained momentum, raising the stakes in Rivers State’s intensifying political showdown.
