The Rivers State House of Assembly has said impeachment notices have been served on Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu. 

The confirmation was contained in a statement on Friday and signed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, Enemi George.

The assembly stated that the impeachment was on course in line with relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

“The two notices of allegations of gross misconduct brought pursuant to Section 188 of the Constitution against the Governor and Deputy Governor have been forwarded to them by the Speaker of the House, while we await their responses,” the statement read.

The assembly said it remained duty-bound to stand by the people and stop infractions on the constitution by the governor, deputy governor, or any other officer of the Rivers State Government.

It warned against misinformation and urged Nigerians to ignore cheap blackmail, reaffirming its constitutional duty in the state.

The assembly, on Thursday, initiated proceedings to remove Mr Fubara from office amid a reignited political rift with his estranged godfather, Nyesom Wike.

The majority leader, Major Jack, initiated the move by citing Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution and reeling out seven allegations of gross misconduct against Mr Fubara.

However, the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State rejected the impeachment against Mr Fubara, describing it as unfortunate and untenable.

The party said, “Our position as of today on this matter is that, we solemnly reject the resort to an impeachment process against our governor and his deputy. It will be totally untenable for our party to keep quiet when an obvious hangover from strifes that occurred within the Peoples Democratic Party are allowed to resurface in our great party.”

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Elders and Leadership Forum (RELEF) has expressed concern over the impeachment notice served on to Gov. Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Ordu.

The Acting Chairman of RELEF and former deputy governor of Rivers, Dr Gabriel Toby, condemned the impeachment move in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Saturday.

The move to impeach Fubara was conveyed by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly following an emergency plenary  on Wednesday.

Mr Toby stated that impeachment was a grave constitutional process and must not be deployed as “an instrument of political vendetta or factional rivalry.”

According to him, the reasons advanced by the lawmakers for the attempted removal of the governor  are weak, insubstantial, and devoid of public interest justification or constitutional weight.

“The allegations against Governor Fubara appear to be driven by narrow personal interests rather than any sincere concern for good governance in the state.

 “The governor’s mandate was freely given by the electorate and can only be questioned in strict compliance with constitutional provisions, due process, and clear, compelling, and verifiable grounds,” he said.

Mr Toby cautioned that the current course of action could deepen political divisions and erode public confidence in democratic institutions.

He added that it could further destabilise an already fragile political environment in the state.

 “Rivers State has yet to fully recover from the political, social and institutional disruptions of the recent emergency rule. Our people are still bearing the consequences of that episode, and the present development risks reopening old wounds and heightening tensions,” he added.

The elder statesman stressed that stability and focussed governance were urgently required and called on the lawmakers to immediately retrace their steps in the interest of peace and progress.

He also urged the legislators to place the collective interest of the state above partisan or personal considerations and reaffirmed the forum’s commitment to peace, unity, justice and constitutional democracy.

“We will not remain silent in the face of actions capable of threatening the stability, dignity, and future of Rivers State. We appeal for wisdom and restraint to prevail in the overall interest of the people. We urge all stakeholders to allow the state to heal and move forward.” Mr Toby said.

(NAN)