Two additional members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have publicly appealed to their colleagues to halt the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, calling instead for restraint, dialogue and peaceful resolution of the political crisis.
The lawmakers — Barile Nwakoh (representing Khana Constituency I) and Emilia Amadi (Obio/Akpor Constituency II) — made the appeal at a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Wednesday. Their intervention marks a notable development in the deepening standoff between the state’s executive and legislative arms.
Their appeal comes just two days after Minority Leader Sylvanus Eyinna Nwankwo (Omuma Constituency) and Peter Abbey (Degema Constituency) publicly broke ranks with the Assembly leadership by urging caution and urging colleagues to explore alternatives to impeachment.
The four lawmakers collectively stressed that impeachment should be a last resort and that avenues for reconciliation, understanding and dialogue should be pursued to prevent further escalation of tensions in the state. They argued that while there may have been concerns about alleged constitutional breaches by the governor or his deputy, such issues are better addressed through political engagement rather than confrontation.
During the briefing, Minority Leader Sylvanus Nwankwo disclosed that the lawmakers had received appeals from prominent leaders within and outside Rivers State urging the Assembly to exercise restraint. He called on his colleagues to reconsider the impeachment process in the interest of peace, stability and democratic governance.
Peter Abbey emphasised that while accountability remains important, it is equally necessary to recognise that mistakes can occur — and that addressing them with understanding could help avert political crisis.
With these latest appeals, four of the 26 lawmakers who originally signed the impeachment notice have publicly distanced themselves from the hardline stance, signalling growing pressure within the Assembly for a political solution rather than a protracted showdown.
