Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has yet to receive any formal impeachment notice from the State House of Assembly, three days after 27 lawmakers initiated proceedings against him and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu.
The impeachment move, launched last Thursday by lawmakers aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was anchored on allegations of misconduct against the governor and his deputy.
Despite assurances by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, that the impeachment letter would be delivered, a source at Government House said on Monday night that no official communication had reached the governor.
As reported by PUNCH, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Fubara only returned from an overseas trip on Sunday and had since been engaged with official duties, including attending the Armed Forces Remembrance Day church service and overseeing ongoing projects across the state.
Meanwhile, cracks have emerged within the pro-impeachment camp as two lawmakers announced their withdrawal from the process, calling on their colleagues to halt the action and seek alternative means of resolving the political crisis.
Speaking at a press conference in Port Harcourt on Monday, the Minority Leader of the House and member representing Omuma State Constituency, Sylvanus Nwankwo, urged the Assembly to exercise restraint and consider dialogue over impeachment.
Nwankwo said the appeal followed interventions by elders and political leaders within and outside the state, who had pleaded for leniency and a peaceful resolution of the crisis.
Also speaking, the lawmaker representing Degema State Constituency, Peter Abbey, echoed the call, stressing the need for a humane and conciliatory approach, while urging the governor to avoid further constitutional breaches to ease tensions.
The development came a day after Wike concluded his ‘thank you tour’ of local government areas in the state and departed for Abuja.
The tour notably excluded Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the governor’s home council, a development that sparked fresh political reactions.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress from the area, who declined to be named, claimed the former governor deliberately avoided Opobo due to the prevailing political tension, adding that turnout was also low during his visit to neighbouring Bonny Local Government Area.
Amid the deepening crisis, the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum has constituted a seven-member reconciliation committee to intervene and broker peace in Rivers State.