Two members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have pulled out of the ongoing impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, calling on their colleagues to pursue dialogue and a peaceful resolution of the crisis in the state legislature.
The lawmakers—Hon. Sylvanus Enyi Nwankwo, who represents Omuma State Constituency and serves as Minority Leader of the Assembly, and Hon. Peter Abi of Degema State Constituency—made their decision public in a video circulated on Monday.
Addressing journalists, the legislators appealed to fellow members of the House to temper justice with mercy and explore alternatives to impeachment amid the deepening political tension in the state.
Nwankwo, introducing himself as the Minority Leader of the 10th Assembly, alongside Abi, acknowledged that the House had already issued impeachment notices against the governor and his deputy. However, they said their intervention was aimed at preventing further escalation.
“We have called this press conference to appeal to our colleagues to temper justice with mercy and to see how this matter can be resolved outside impeachment proceedings,” the lawmakers said.
They explained that their decision to step back from the impeachment move followed appeals from elders and political leaders within and outside Rivers State, who urged restraint and reconciliation.
“Having listened to numerous pleas from our elders and leaders, both within and outside the state, we are calling on our colleagues to reconsider their steps and seek an amicable resolution, even though the Governor and the Deputy Governor may have infringed on aspects of the Constitution,” they stated.
While acknowledging alleged constitutional violations, the lawmakers stressed the need for caution and humanity in addressing the matter.
“Yes, there may have been constitutional infractions, but we are human beings. As members of the 10th Assembly, we are pleading with our colleagues to reconsider,” they said.
They also warned against taking actions that could have irreversible political consequences, noting that appeals had continued to pour in from influential figures across the state and beyond.
At the same time, the lawmakers insisted that Governor Fubara must play his part by ensuring strict compliance with constitutional provisions going forward.
“The Governor also has a role to play. He must ensure that he does not further infringe on the Constitution so that there can be an amicable settlement of this issue,” they added.
Their intervention comes as the impeachment process against Governor Fubara and his deputy continues to stir controversy and deepen divisions within the Rivers State House of Assembly, heightening political uncertainty in the state.
