Amid the ongoing political tensions in Rivers State, two more members of the State House of Assembly have publicly called for the withdrawal of impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu.

The lawmakers, Hon. Barile Nwakoh (representing Khana Constituency I) and Hon. Emilia Amadi (representing Obio/Akpor Constituency II), made the appeal on Wednesday during a press briefing in Port Harcourt. Their statement came just two days after a similar position was adopted by two other legislators.

This brings the total number of lawmakers who have distanced themselves from the impeachment move to four. Previously, on Monday, Hon. Sylvanus Eyinna Nwankwo (Minority Leader and representative of Omuma State Constituency) and Hon. Peter Abbey (Degema State Constituency) broke ranks and urged restraint during their own press briefing in the state capital.

The impeachment process was initiated last week, around January 8, 2026, when 26 lawmakers, mostly aligned with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and reportedly loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, presented a notice of allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara and his deputy. The accusations reportedly include the demolition of the Assembly complex, extra-budgetary spending, and defiance of a Supreme Court ruling on legislative autonomy.

In their appeals, the dissenting lawmakers emphasised the need for dialogue, diplomacy, and peaceful resolution over confrontation. They cited interventions and appeals from respected leaders and stakeholders within and outside Rivers State, urging leniency in the interest of the state’s stability and peace.

  • Nwankwo highlighted that while constitutional breaches may have occurred, alternatives to impeachment should be explored, noting external calls for caution.
  • Abbey acknowledged potential violations but stressed that mistakes happen and that the governor should commit to preventing future breaches.
  • The latest pair, Nwakoh and Amadi, echoed these sentiments, prioritising the state’s stability and suggesting that impeachment should be a last resort rather than a tool to deepen divisions.

Reports indicate that four of the original 26 signatories to the impeachment notice have now withdrawn support, signalling growing internal divisions within the Assembly and increasing calls for reconciliation between the executive and legislative arms.

The Rivers State House of Assembly is expected to reconvene soon, potentially as early as January 15, 2026, when the leadership will likely address these developments and decide how to proceed amid the deepening rift.

Governor Fubara has previously appealed for calm among residents while the process unfolds, and there have been unconfirmed reports of higher-level interventions, including possible directives to pause proceedings.

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