Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have insisted that impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy will continue, declaring that they will not “retrace their steps” despite pressure and ongoing political mediation efforts.
The lawmakers, who addressed journalists on Friday morning, spoke shortly before the House was expected to reconvene plenary, following its failure to sit earlier in the week, one week after adjourning amid rising tension over the impeachment process.
Opening the press briefing, a senior member of the Assembly accused the executive arm of intimidation and constitutional breaches.
“We are not prepared to retrace our steps and govern outside the provisions of the Constitution. They are adamant. Their strategy is to intimidate us into withdrawing the process for the third time, while they continue their infractions on the Constitution and the law,” he said.
He added that the lawmakers were being deliberately undermined.
“They are insisting that others will come and that we will not perform our oversight functions like other legislatures in the federation. This is very bad for our democracy. On this note, we are proceeding with the impeachment process.”
The lawmaker acknowledged efforts by elders and leaders to broker peace but said such interventions had been ignored.
“We thank Mr President for his fatherly efforts so far, but the governor and the deputy governor have both disregarded them.”
He then invited his colleagues to speak.
Honourable Amadi (name as given), who said he represents his constituency alongside Honourable Barry Lowe, reiterated the Assembly’s position.
“What Honourable Barry Lowe has just said is that we have resolved to proceed with the impeachment process. We are open to considering a political solution, but the governor and deputy governor are ignoring us.”
He accused the executive of issuing threats against the legislature.
“They are insisting that the Constitution does not matter and that nothing will happen. There are strong indications that they are adamant about continuing with illegal actions in the state. They are boasting that we do not matter and cannot perform oversight functions or even be allowed to pass an appropriation bill.”
He described such conduct as an affront to the judiciary.
“We consider these threats and intentions a slap to the Supreme Court, which gave judgment warning the governor and deputy governor. We must defend the institution of the legislature.”
He also thanked President Bola Tinubu.
“We extend our gratitude to Mr President for doing so much for peace, support and prayers.”
Another lawmaker, who said he represents his constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly, stressed that ethnicity had no bearing on the impeachment process.
“I want to tell the Rivers people that what we are doing is institutional. There is nothing ethnic about it. I have to defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.”
He concluded:“Therefore, we have asked Mr Speaker to convene this House so that we can sit and continue with the impeachment process.”
Honourable Linda Sumyari Stewart, who said she represents her constituency, clarified the constitutional basis for the lawmakers’ actions.
“I want to clarify that impeachment is one of the mechanisms set up in the Constitution for checks and balances. Impeachment is not and should not have any ethnic agenda.”
Another member, who introduced herself as representing her constituency, said the Assembly was acting strictly within its mandate.
“What we intend or are about to do is one of our duties as legislators, which is to check and oversee the executive. Sections of the Constitution empower us to supervise and investigate when there are allegations or notices of gross misconduct.”
She added:“Impeachment is not persecution, and it has nothing to do with ethnicity or tribal sentiment.”
Honourable Wellington Granville, who said he represents his constituency, accused Governor Fubara of attempting to weaken democratic institutions.
“The strategy of the governor is to murder democracy. The strategy of the governor is to eliminate the legislative arm of government, and that is quite unfortunate.”
He described the governor as authoritarian.
“It is a constitutional matter. It is quite unfortunate that the governor is running an authoritarian system with a very strong executive. Never again should Rivers people have such.”
Another lawmaker accused the governor of political manipulation rather than genuine dialogue.
“If you need peace, you should have called the leadership of the Assembly to ask, ‘What is the way forward?’ Instead, you are paying people to go on social media and create a pity party.”
He said the Supreme Court had already addressed the crisis.
“The Supreme Court has summarised everything. It said there was no governance in Rivers State and warned against divisive sentiments. What we are doing is to look into the allegations and determine whether there has been any infringement of the Constitution.”
He concluded:“There is nothing we are doing that is not in the Constitution, and we stand by it.”
Honourable Arnold Davis said the lawmakers’ loyalty was to the Constitution, not to ethnic or political interests.
“We were elected into the 10th Assembly to uphold the Constitution, not to represent an ethnic group. What we are discussing here is all about the Constitution, as written in the 1999 Constitution as amended.”
He added:“The Constitution gives us the power to act if the governor or deputy governor breaches it. What we are doing is not out of place.”
The Assembly members maintained that impeachment remains a legitimate constitutional mechanism and warned that any attempt to undermine the legislature would pose a serious threat to democracy in Rivers State.
The Rivers State Government is yet to formally respond to the lawmakers’ latest statements.
Boluwatife Enome
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