Impeachment: Fubara, Rivers Lawmakers in Fresh Showdown

Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. This development follows a shift in stance from four lawmakers who had previously withdrawn their support for the impeachment process.

The lawmakers—Sylvanus Nwankwo (Omuma), Peter Abbey (Degema), Barile Nwakoh (Khana I), and Emilia Amadi (Obio/Akpor II)—initially cited a preference for dialogue and political reconciliation as their reasons for stepping back.

However, they have now indicated their renewed support for the impeachment initiative.

However, they reversed their decision during a live plenary session on Friday, citing continued hostility from the governor and his deputy and repeated disregard for calls for dialogue.

The Assembly thereafter voted unanimously to continue with the impeachment.

Speaker Martin Amaewhule said the resolution was in line with Section 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“Those in favour that the investigation should proceed are 25 in number, against nil, abstention nil. By this vote, the Rivers State House of Assembly has resolved that investigations into allegations of gross misconduct against His Excellency, Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State, should proceed to the next level. I will forward a letter to the Chief Judge to immediately set up a seven-man panel to begin investigations,” he said.

The Assembly adjourned until Tuesday, January 27, for its next sitting.

Why we want Fubara removed – Lawmakers

Before the plenary, the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol, accused Fubara and the Deputy Governor, Ngozi Odu, of intimidating and blackmailing lawmakers, saying the governor had infringed on the Constitution.

“Previous attempts at resolving the political quagmire failed because the governor does not abide by agreements and cannot be trusted. It is obvious that the only solution now is impeachment,” he said.

Maol alleged that the governor used the EFCC and media platforms to intimidate lawmakers while refusing to respond to the allegations.

He thanked President Tinubu for attempting to mediate.

Also, the member representing Akuku-Toru Constituency II, Looloo Opuende, alleged that while stakeholders and some lawmakers were making efforts to find a political solution to the crisis, the governor was working behind the scenes to induce their constituents to initiate their recall from the House.

Speaking at a news briefing at the Assembly’s temporary legislative quarters along Aba Road, Port Harcourt, Opuende claimed that Fubara was allegedly paying constituents to withdraw their representatives.

“While the impeachment process was ongoing, the governor was busy paying our constituents to recall us from the Assembly. Is that the right thing to do?” he asked.

Opuende said if the governor genuinely desired peace, he should have engaged the leadership of the Assembly to agree on a way forward.

“Impeachment is a constitutional matter. I support and urge the Speaker to reconstitute the House so that the process can continue,” the lawmaker added.

He further said those calling for the impeachment process to be stalled should first interrogate the root cause of the rift between the executive and legislative arms of government in the state.

Reacting, the Special Assistant to Fubara on Political Matters, Darlington Orji, described the lawmakers as people who were acting a drama script.

Orji, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH, described the crisis as a battle for the soul of the state.

He said, “Everybody knows that they are acting a script; those guys are not acting on their own volition. They cannot say that they have retraced their footsteps; that they have realised that the interest of Rivers people should come first and that they got calls from both within and outside Rivers State for peaceful resolution, only for them to come and give flimsy excuses that people are abusing them on social media and changed their minds. What kind of drama is that?

“For us, the governor of Rivers State is determined to provide quality leadership. What is happening in Rivers State is a fight for the soul of the state. It is a supremacy battle where a man thinks that he made him the governor, and he can pull him out any day. That is where we are, but by the grace of God we are going to overcome it.”

Court halts impeachment proceedings

Meanwhile, a Rivers State High Court sitting in Oyigbo, Port Harcourt, issued an interim injunction restraining the Speaker, the Clerk of the House and two others from sending any correspondence to the Chief Judge.

The court also barred the Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, from receiving, forwarding or acting on any request or document aimed at constituting a panel to investigate the alleged misconduct against Fubara and his deputy for seven days.

The presiding judge, Justice F.A. Fiberesima, granted leave for the claimants to serve the interim order and originating processes at the gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The case was adjourned to January 23 for hearing.