Updated: Rivers Assembly insist on impeachment against Gov Fubara, Deputy

Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly on Friday vowed to continue with the impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, despite ongoing calls for a political solution.

Speaking at a live press conference in Port Harcourt, the lawmakers accused the governor of blackmail and said he had lost the trust necessary to tackle the crisis rocking the oil-rich state.

They alleged that Fubara and his deputy had infringed on the 1999 Constitution and resorted to intimidating the parliament, leaving the lawmakers with no choice but to exercise their legislative power to remove them from office.

The assembly members, however, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for intervening in the crisis and called on Speaker Martin Amaewhule to reconvene the House.

Notably, four lawmakers who had earlier advocated for a political resolution recanted their position and declared support for the continuation of the impeachment process.

Shortly after the press conference, the lawmakers proceeded to the chambers to commence a parliamentary session aimed at moving the impeachment forward.

During plenary, the lawmakers unanimously voted to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara and his deputy.

“This vote clearly reflects the decision of the House,” Speaker Martin Amaewhule said, as he urged the Chief Judge of the state to set up an investigative panel.