Impeachment Plot Against Fubara Faces Pushback as Two Rivers Lawmakers Speak Out
By Hakeem Oduyoye
Two more lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly have joined calls for the suspension of impeachment proceedings initiated against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu.
The legislators, Barile Nwakoh, representing Khana Constituency I, and Emilia Amadi of Obio/Akpor Constituency II, made the appeal on Wednesday, urging their colleagues to reconsider the move in the interest of peace and stability in the state.
The impeachment notice, issued on January 8, accused Governor Fubara of gross misconduct, including allegations of demolishing the Assembly complex, engaging in spending outside approved budgets and disregarding a Supreme Court judgment on legislative autonomy.
According to reports by TVC News, Nwakoh and Amadi acknowledged that constitutional issues were raised against the governor and his deputy but said the growing tension in the state informed their decision to seek a halt to the impeachment process.
They disclosed that appeals from respected elders and political leaders within and beyond Rivers State played a key role in their change of stance, stressing the need for dialogue rather than confrontation.
Their position follows earlier interventions by two other members of the Assembly who had also publicly withdrawn support for the impeachment plan and called for alternative mechanisms to address the political disagreement.
At a press conference held in Port Harcourt earlier in the week, the Minority Leader of the House and member representing Omuma State Constituency, Sylvanus Nwankwo, appealed for caution among lawmakers.
“We are appealing to our colleagues to exercise restraint and explore other ways of resolving this matter instead of proceeding with impeachment,” Nwankwo said, noting that the House had received numerous appeals from traditional rulers and political stakeholders.
He added that the lawmakers were acting in response to widespread calls for moderation and reconciliation from leaders concerned about the stability of the state.
With the latest development, four of the 26 lawmakers who endorsed the notice of alleged misconduct have now publicly favoured a peaceful resolution of the ongoing political crisis.
The Rivers State House of Assembly is scheduled to reconvene on January 15, 2026, amid growing expectations of further dialogue on the issue.