Four members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who had earlier distanced themselves from the impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara have made a U-turn, announcing renewed support for the move.
The lawmakers are the House Minority Leader, Sylvanus Nwankwo; Peter Abbey of Degema Constituency; Barile Nwakoh, representing Khana Constituency I; and Emilia Amadi of Obio/Akpor Constituency II.
They announced their change of position on Friday during a live broadcast from the forecourt of the Assembly complex in Port Harcourt, just days after appealing for dialogue and a political settlement nto the crisis in the state.
Explaining the reversal, Nwankwo recalled their earlier appeal for reconciliation. “You will recall that on the 12th day of January 2026, myself and my colleague, Honourable Peter Abbey, addressed the press, wherein we made a plea to our colleagues to seek for a political solution to this impasse that is going on between the Assembly and the Governor of Rivers State,” he said.
He added that developments since then forced a rethink. “During the pendency of this appeal, we found out that the governor and the deputy governor, they have all employed their media boys and aides to continuously attack the Rivers State House of Assembly instead of seeking for the political solution which we offer, it is on this basis that I, Honourable Sylvanus Nwankwo, and my fellow colleague here, Honourable Peter Abbey, say that the impeachment proceedings should continue,” Nwankwo stated.
Nwakoh and Amadi also said their decision was informed by what they described as the governor’s and his deputy’s lack of interest in resolving the crisis through dialogue.
The reversal comes amid escalating tensions within the Assembly over the impeachment of Governor Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu. The House, under the leadership of Speaker Martin Amaewhule, formally initiated impeachment proceedings last week, accusing the executive of gross misconduct.
Among the allegations are the demolition of the Assembly complex and the alleged expenditure of public funds without legislative approval.
Earlier in the week, between Monday and Wednesday, the four lawmakers had announced their withdrawal from the impeachment process, citing the need for political reconciliation.
However, Assembly members on Friday maintained that the impeachment process would move forward, insisting it is constitutional and represents the only viable path out of the political stalemate in the state.
The latest development follows the House’s inability to reconvene for plenary on Thursday, a week after its last sitting, amid reports of internal divisions.
With the renewed backing of the four lawmakers, the impeachment effort now appears to have regained momentum within the Rivers State House of Assembly.
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