Four lawmakers reverse pleas for Fubara, renew push for impeachment

Four members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who withdrew their support for the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara have reversed their decision, re-backing ongoing removal process.

The lawmakers—Minority Leader Sylvanus Nwankwo (Omuma Constituency), Peter Abbey (Degema Constituency), Deputy Minority Leader Barile Nwakoh (Khana I Constituency), and Emilia Amadi (Obio/Akpor II Constituency) had earlier stepped back from the impeachment move and appealed to their colleagues to suspend the process.

However, speaking at a press conference in Port Harcourt on Friday, the legislators said Governor Fubara had failed to demonstrate any commitment that would justify their continued withdrawal from the impeachment proceedings.

According to them, the governor’s actions since their initial decision had reinforced concerns that prompted the impeachment move, leaving them with no option but to re-join their colleagues.

Nwankwo said, “You’ll recall that on the 12th day of January, myself and my colleague, Honourable Peter Abbey addressed the press wherein we made a plea to our colleagues to seek for a political solution to the crisis between the Assembly and the governor of Rivers state.

“During the tendency this appeal, we found out that the governor and deputy governor have employed their media boys and aide to continuously attack the Rivers State House of Assembly, instead of seeking for the political solution which we offered. It is on this basis that I and my fellow colleague, Peter Abbey, is saying that the impeachment proceeding should continue, we have rescinded our plea.”

Speaking also, Barile Nwakoh, the deputy minority leader said, “The governor and deputy governor have sent signals that they are not prepared to retrace their steps and govern in line with the constitution, they are adamant.

“We are now convinced that their strategy is to intimidate us into withdrawing the impeachment process for the third time, while they continue their infractions on the constitution and the law. They are insisting that we will not perform our oversight functions like other states legislatures in the federation.

“This is very bad for our democracy. On this note we are proceeding with the impeachment process. And while we thank Mr President for his fatherly effort so far that the governor and his deputy have both disregarded.”

Emilia Amadi also reiterated the renewed calls for Fubara and his deputy’s impeachment process.

Their renewed stance comes as the Rivers State House of Assembly formally declared its resolve to proceed with the impeachment of Governor Fubara and his deputy, insisting that their removal was necessary to avert a breakdown of law and order in the state.

The lawmakers cited the prolonged political crisis and governance challenges in Rivers State as justification for their position, stressing that decisive legislative action was required to restore stability.