PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria – The factional Rivers State House of Assembly has withdrawn the impeachment notice previously served on the governor of the state, Siminialayi Fubara.
This decision was made public during a plenary session held at the converted auditorium of the House of Assembly Quarters on Aba Road.
The factional Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, read a letter on the floor of the House, signed by 24 members, stating the withdrawal of the impeachment notice.
This notice, initially served on October 30, 2023, cited allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara under Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution.
Amaewhule highlighted that the withdrawal follows a consensus reached on December 18, 2023, mediated by President Bola Tinubu.
Emphasising the respect held for the President, he mentioned that the factional House agreed to adhere to the terms of the agreement and President Tinubu’s advice.
The political landscape in Rivers State has been tumultuous, marked by a deep-seated rift between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
The crisis reached a peak between October 29 and 30, 2023, when the House of Assembly was set ablaze amidst alleged attempts to impeach Governor Fubara.
This incident led to the emergence of two factional speakers – Martins Amaewhule, an ally of Wike, and Edison Ehie, a supporter of Fubara.
The crisis further intensified with the defection of 27 House members, originally aligned with Wike, to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, in a recent development, one of these members retracted their defection. Simultaneously, several commissioners loyal to Wike resigned from Governor Fubara’s cabinet.
In response to the escalating situation, President Tinubu intervened, holding a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja with Governor Fubara, former Governor Peter Odili, Wike, and other key stakeholders.
Following the meeting, a eight-point resolution from this meeting, aimed at quelling the political unrest. During the discussions, the Federal Government clarified its neutral stance on the state’s political issues.
As part of the resolution, all parties involved agreed to withdraw ongoing court cases, marking a significant step towards resolving the conflict.
In related news, the House also reviewed further reports from the Adhoc Committee on the Aleto Oil Spill.
The Committee, which had previously submitted a report in August 2023, was commended by Amaewhule for its diligence. He urged the Committee to continue its efforts to ensure comprehensive and effective remediation in the affected community.
