Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have withdrawn the impeachment notice that was previously served the governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
By Emma Ogbuehi
Apparently keeping to the terms of truce brokered by President Bola Tinubu, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have withdrawn the impeachment notice that was previously served the governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Agreements at the peace accord, included withdrawal of all court cases arising from the impasse between the governor and his godfather, Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister; cessation of impeachment moves against Fubara, recall of the commissioners that recently resigned their offices and recognition of the Speaker on Wike’s side, Martins Amaewhule.
Wike and the governor had fallen out over the tussle for the control of the state’s politics, leading to 27 lawmakers loyal to the minister serving the governor impeachment notice, a move put on hold by four of the legislators supporting the governor.
Not wanting to be caught napping, Fubara ordered the demolition of the Assembly complex and hastily signed the state’s 2024 appropriation bill into law. Members of the legislature in his camp, also declared the positions of those that had joined the APC, vacant. The pro-Fubara legislators also got a court pronouncement declaring the Speaker in their fold, the authentic presiding officer.
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The situation remained hazy when Tinubu intervened, summoned the warring parties in Abuja, where some agreements were reportedly entered into.
The lawmakers officially began their sessions in the state capital of Port Harcourt on Wednesday. They gathered solely to focus on the withdrawal of the impeachment notice against Fubara during their deliberations.
This follows a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the warring parties in the Aso Villa in Abuja on Monday, where a truce was mediated.
According to TVC reports, the lawmakers announced their decision to withdraw in a notice read on the house floor, citing respect for the President as the reason behind their move.
The conflict between Fubara and Nyesom Wike, his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, split lawmakers in the House, with 27 of them decamping from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
In a series of events that unfolded during the feud, parallel sittings emerged, an impeachment plot against the governor was uncovered, the Assembly complex was demolished, and a wave of resignations swept through the cabinet of pro-Wike commissioners in Fubara’s cabinet.