Fubara: Two More Rivers Lawmakers Back-out, Urge Assembly To Drop Impeachment Move Against Governor

— Gov. Siminalayi Fubara

By Adeola Idris

Two additional lawmakers of Rivers State House of Assembly have similarly urged the Assembly to shelve the impeachment process. This is coming after the first two lawmakers backed out of the impeachment process.

The members have publicly called on their colleagues to stop the impeachment proceedings initiated against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Ngozi Odu.

The lawmakers, Barile Nwakoh, who represents Khana Constituency I, and Emilia Amadi of Obio/Akpor Constituency II, made the appeal amid escalating political tension in the state legislature.

Their intervention comes two days after two other lawmakers similarly urged the Assembly to shelve the impeachment process.

Following the latest development, four of the 26 lawmakers who originally endorsed the notice of alleged gross misconduct have withdrawn their support, highlighting a rising push within the Assembly for dialogue over confrontation.

The lawmakers who previously made a U-turn are Hon. Sylvanus Enyi Nwankwo, who represents Omuma State Constituency and the Minority Leader of the Assembly, and Hon. Peter Abi of Degema State Constituency,

They warned against actions that could further destabilise the state and called instead for restraint and dialogue.

In the video, the legislators appealed to members of the Assembly to temper justice with mercy and explore an amicable resolution to the crisis rocking the state legislature.

–– The two lawmakers addressing the house

“Good afternoon, gentlemen of the press. My name is Honorable Sylvanus Enyi Nwankwo. I represent Omuma State constituency at the Rivers State House of Assembly,” Nwankwo said.

“And I’m also the Minority Leader of the 10th Assembly. My name is Honorable Peter Abi. and I represent Degema State constituency in the House of Assembly.”

Addressing the impeachment notice already issued against the governor and his deputy, the lawmakers said they convened the press briefing to formally appeal to their colleagues.

“Gentlemen, you are all aware that the Rivers State House of Assembly issued a notice of impeachment on the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and the Deputy Governor of Rivers State,” they said.

“But we have called this press conference to appeal to our fellow colleagues to dampen justice with mercy, and to see how we can resolve this matter apart from impeachment proceedings.”

They disclosed that pressure from elders and leaders within and outside Rivers State informed their decision to step back from the impeachment move.

“Having listened to so many pleas and calls from our elders and leaders, both within and outside the state, begging for leniency, we are calling on our colleagues to reconsider our step and see how this matter can be resolved amicably, even though the Governor and the Deputy Governor have infringed on the Constitution,” the lawmakers said.

The call was made during a press briefing in Port Harcourt Rivers State on Monday.