…However, the four Rivers State lawmakers did not distance themselves from the impeachment notices signed by 26 members.
RIVERS, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | More members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have joined calls for the suspension of the ongoing impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu.
In a parallel development, traditional rulers in Rivers state have set up a committee to mediate and seek a resolution to the political crisis. The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party of both the governor and the Assembly majority, has also intervened.
On Wednesday, two lawmakers, Barile Nwakoh (Khana Constituency 1) and Emilia Amadi (Obio/Akpor Constituency II) urged their colleagues to consider conditionally halting the impeachment proceedings. They acknowledged that the Rivers state governor and his deputy may have violated the Constitution but stressed that appeals from respected leaders should not be ignored.
Their intervention came two days after Minority Leader Sylvanus Nwankwo (Omuma Constituency) and Peter Abbey (Degema Constituency) had urged lawmakers to temper justice with mercy. However, the four Rivers State lawmakers did not distance themselves from the impeachment notices signed by 26 members.
The lawmakers’ call for reconciliation is conditional, emphasizing that the governor must adhere strictly to the Constitution in the exercise of his office.
Earlier in the week, the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) established a mediation committee chaired by former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), to consult both sides of the dispute.
Sources indicate that Governor Fubara has expressed willingness to pursue a truce by reaching out to the House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, for reconciliation. He also directed his supporters to refrain from making public comments against FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and to avoid actions that could escalate tensions.
Fubara and Odu were served with impeachment notices last week over allegations of gross misconduct, with lawmakers giving them seven days to respond.
An APC National Working Committee (NWC) member confirmed that the party has intervened to prevent a fracture within its ranks. The party intends to reconcile the governor with lawmakers, who are senior figures within the ruling party. Sources further revealed that, following the party’s involvement, the Assembly might reconvene to pause the impeachment process and explore a political resolution.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers inaugurated a nine-member Reconciliation Committee to mediate the crisis and persuade lawmakers to withdraw the impeachment notice. The committee, inaugurated by Council Chairman Eze Chike Amadi Worlu-Wodo (Eze Oha Apara IV, Apara Kingdom), is chaired by His Majesty Dr. Suanu Baridam, with His Majesty Eze Nwachukwu Nnam Obi as co-chair. Other members include Eze Uchechukwu Isaiah-Elikwu, Eze Leslie Eke, Dr. Samuel Amaechi, Dr. Felix Otuwarikpo, Eze Onyekachi Amaonwu, King Agolia Aboko, and Eze Nwankwo Nwankwo, with Darlington Owiriwa serving as secretary.
In a statement, Baridam urged the public and supporters of all factions to moderate their comments on social media and avoid actions that could disrupt peace in Rivers state.
At a press conference in Port Harcourt, Nwakoh and Amadi thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Wike for their interventions and explained that the crisis stemmed from constitutional violations by Fubara and Odu, particularly the governor’s refusal to honour prior agreements reached under presidential supervision.
They appealed to colleagues to consider a political solution if the governor demonstrates a commitment to respecting the Constitution and past agreements. They stated:
“We speak for ourselves, not the House. While we are part of the allegation notice due to multiple infringements of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), we have received numerous calls from leaders and Rivers people to seek a political solution rather than outright removal.
“Our willingness to explore a political settlement is not a sign of weakness but a reflection of our forgiving hearts. We hope the governor and deputy governor will retrace their steps, govern in accordance with the Constitution, and honour all agreements previously made under the supervision of the President.”
