Four members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have withdrawn their support for the impeachment notice served on Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, urging their colleagues to halt the process and embrace dialogue to avoid further political tension in the state.
The latest lawmakers to back out are Barile Nwakoh, who represents Khana I, and Emilia Amadi of Obio/Akpor II constituency. They announced their decision on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, during a briefing with journalists in Port Harcourt, where they called on the Assembly to rescind the impeachment notice against the governor and his deputy.
Nwakoh and Amadi joined Sylvanus Enyinna Nwankwo, the Assembly’s Minority Leader and member representing Omuma constituency, and Peter Abbey of Degema constituency, who had on Monday publicly distanced themselves from the impeachment proceedings.
With their withdrawal, four out of the 26 lawmakers who signed the impeachment notice have now indicated an intention to discontinue the process. The remaining 22 members have yet to signal a similar move. The Assembly’s spokesperson, Enemi Alabo George, has said the impeachment process is still ongoing.
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Nwankwo and Abbey, in a statement issued earlier in the week, urged their colleagues to de-escalate tensions and exercise restraint in handling the political situation in the state. While acknowledging that the impeachment notice alleged constitutional breaches by Fubara and Odu, the two lawmakers said the Assembly must “temper justice with mercy” in the overall interest of Rivers State.
They warned that actions capable of destabilising the polity would undermine democratic governance and erode public confidence, stressing that the welfare and peace of the state should take precedence over partisan considerations.
“The peace of Rivers State is paramount. This is a moment for reflection, dialogue and statesmanship,” they said, adding that history would judge the Assembly by the choices it makes at this critical juncture.
Observers say the Assembly appears to be at a crossroads amid growing public scrutiny and reactions to the impeachment process initiated against the governor and his deputy. The decision by four lawmakers to withdraw their support is seen as a potential opening for de-escalation and dialogue, and may offer the legislature a pathway out of the political crisis.
