Two members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have appealed to their colleagues to exercise restraint and suspend the ongoing impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Nma Odu.
Speaking at a press conference in Port Harcourt on Monday, the House Minority Leader, Sylvanus Nwankwo, alongside the lawmaker representing Degema Constituency, Peter Abbey, said widespread appeals from elders, political leaders, residents, and their constituents informed their plea for leniency.
“Rivers State issued a notice of impeachment on Governor Fubara and his Deputy. We appeal to our fellow colleagues to temper justice with mercy and see how we can solve this matter without the impeachment proceedings,” Nwankwo said.
He explained that after considering the interventions from respected figures within and outside the state, the two lawmakers decided to publicly urge the Assembly to reconsider its next steps.
“Having listened to so many calls from our elders and leaders, both within and outside the state, we are begging our colleagues to reconsider our steps and see how this matter can be resolved amicably even though the governor and his deputy have infringed on the Constitution,” he added.
The appeal followed reports that Governor Fubara and his deputy were served impeachment notices last Thursday over alleged acts of gross misconduct. The notice was presented by the Majority Leader, Major Jack, and reportedly bore the signatures of 26 lawmakers.
The allegations listed against the governor include extra-budgetary expenditure of over ₦800 billion without legislative approval, refusal to release funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, demolition of the House of Assembly complex, and alleged disobedience of Supreme Court decisions relating to legislative autonomy.
In a similar move, a separate impeachment notice was read against the deputy governor, accusing her of collaborating in unconstitutional financial activities.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, announced that the impeachment notices would be formally served on the governor and his deputy within seven days, in line with constitutional provisions.
However, Governor Fubara later stated that he was yet to receive any impeachment notice from the lawmakers, casting uncertainty over the procedural stage of the process.
The latest development signals a fresh escalation in the long-running political crisis in Rivers State, which originated from the rift between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Past attempts to impeach the governor in 2023 and 2025 were reportedly stopped following interventions by the presidency, before President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state last March to contain the deepening political turmoil.
What you should know
Rivers State has been grappling with a prolonged political crisis rooted in the power struggle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and former governor Nyesom Wike.
The conflict has repeatedly strained relations between the executive and the legislature, leading to multiple impeachment attempts, presidential interventions, and governance disruptions.
Analysts warn that continued instability could affect governance, development projects, and public confidence in the state’s political leadership if dialogue and reconciliation efforts fail.
