Four Rivers Lawmakers Withdraw Support for Fubara’s Impeachment

Two additional members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have withdrawn from the ongoing impeachment moves against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, bringing the total number of lawmakers who have stepped back from the process to four out of the 26 initially involved.

The latest lawmakers who backed out are Hon. Mrs Barile Nwakoh, the Deputy Minority Leader of the Assembly, and Hon. Emilia Amadi.

In a statement by Hon. Mrs Nwakoh on Wednesday, the lawmakers acknowledged that the governor and his deputy were accused of infringing on the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), as well as allegedly abandoning a peace agreement brokered under the supervision of President Bola Tinubu to resolve the political crisis in the state.

However, the lawmakers said persistent appeals from political leaders and residents of Rivers State had influenced their decision to reconsider the impeachment process.

“We have been inundated with calls from political leaders and Rivers State people begging for a political solution to the problem,” the statement read. “We hereby state our willingness to consider a political solution rather than the outright removal of Governor Fubara.”

The lawmakers emphasised that their decision should not be seen as a sign of weakness but as an act of forgiveness and statesmanship. They expressed hope that Governor Fubara and his deputy would provide assurances to retrace their steps, govern in line with constitutional provisions, and honour all agreements reached under the supervision of President Tinubu.

They thanked President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and political leader of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, as well as the people of the state, for their support.