Four members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who had earlier stepped away from the impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara have withdrawn their opposition and declared support for the proceedings.
The lawmakers are the Minority Leader of the House, Sylvanus Nwankwo; Peter Abbey, who represents Degema Constituency; Barile Nwakoh of Khana Constituency I; and Emilia Amadi of Obio/Akpor Constituency II.
Their change of position was announced on Friday during a live broadcast from the frontage of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex. The declaration came just days after they had publicly appealed for dialogue and political reconciliation to address the lingering crisis in the state.
Speaking during the broadcast, Nwankwo explained the reasons behind the reversal.
He said, “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.
“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, Honorable Peter Abbey, say that the impeachment proceedings should continue.”
Nwakoh and Amadi, who also addressed the media, said their decision to support the impeachment was based on what they described as the governor’s and deputy governor’s unwillingness to resolve the crisis through dialogue.
The latest development has intensified tensions within the Assembly over the impeachment move against Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu.
Last week, the House, presided over by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, formally commenced impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy over allegations of gross misconduct.
Among the allegations are the demolition of the Assembly complex and the alleged expenditure of public funds without legislative approval.
However, between Monday and Wednesday, the four lawmakers had announced their withdrawal from the process, citing the need for dialogue and political reconciliation.
On Friday, members of the Assembly maintained that the impeachment exercise would proceed, insisting that it was constitutional and represented the only viable solution to the political deadlock in the state.
The situation followed the Assembly’s inability to reconvene for plenary on Thursday, one week after it adjourned its previous sitting, amid reports of internal disagreements among lawmakers.
With the renewed backing of the four legislators, the impeachment process appears to have regained momentum within the House.
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