Rivers State House of Assembly Holds Press Briefing

The Rivers State House of Assembly has intensified its political standoff with Governor Siminalayi Fubara, holding a press briefing in Port Harcourt to reaffirm its impeachment proceedings despite mounting calls for restraint. The briefing highlighted deep divisions within the Assembly, with some lawmakers urging reconciliation while others recommitted to the impeachment process.

Rivers State House of Assembly Holds Press Briefing

The Rivers State House of Assembly convened a press briefing in Port Harcourt amid escalating political tensions between the legislative and executive arms of government.

The briefing was called to address the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu. Speaker Martin Amaewhule and key members of the Assembly emphasized their determination to proceed with the impeachment, citing allegations of gross misconduct, unauthorized spending, and the controversial demolition of the Assembly complex.

The press briefing comes at a time of heightened political crisis in Rivers State. Earlier in the week, several lawmakers, including Minority Leader Sylvanus Nwankwo and representatives Barile Nwakoh and Emilia Amadi, publicly distanced themselves from the impeachment move.

They argued that dialogue and reconciliation should be prioritized over confrontation, stressing that the impeachment process could destabilize governance and peace in the oil-rich state. Their position reflected growing pressure from stakeholders and community leaders who have appealed for restraint.

However, the briefing also revealed a sharp reversal by four lawmakers who had initially withdrawn support for the impeachment. These legislators announced a U-turn, recommitting themselves to the process and accusing Governor Fubara of failing to show remorse over the allegations leveled against him.

This development underscored the deep divisions within the Assembly, with factions pulling in opposite directions and intensifying uncertainty about the state’s political future.

The Assembly leadership insisted that the impeachment proceedings were necessary to uphold constitutional order and legislative authority. They accused Governor Fubara of undermining the Assembly’s role in governance and acting unilaterally on key decisions without legislative approval.

The Speaker reiterated that the Assembly would not be intimidated and would continue to exercise its constitutional mandate, regardless of external pressures.

Observers note that the crisis is rooted in the broader political rivalry between Governor Fubara and former Governor Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

The Assembly, largely aligned with Wike, has been at the forefront of challenging Fubara’s authority, while the governor’s supporters accuse the legislature of pursuing a vendetta rather than acting in the state’s interest. The press briefing thus served as both a reaffirmation of the Assembly’s stance and a signal of the deepening political battle in Rivers State.

The implications of the briefing are significant. On one hand, it demonstrates the Assembly’s resolve to continue impeachment proceedings despite defections and appeals for peace. On the other, it highlights the fragility of consensus within the legislature, with lawmakers openly divided and shifting positions.

For Rivers State, the outcome of this confrontation will shape governance, stability, and the balance of power between the executive and legislative arms in the months ahead.

In summary, the Rivers State House of Assembly’s press briefing reinforced its commitment to impeaching Governor Fubara, even as some lawmakers called for reconciliation. The event exposed the Assembly’s internal divisions and underscored the broader political crisis gripping Rivers State, with implications for governance, stability, and the state’s future direction