Reasons for Fubara’s impeachment disturbingly weak — Rivers Elders

By Davies Iheamnachor

PORT HARCOURT — The Rivers Elders and Leadership Forum (RELF) has described the reasons advanced by the Rivers State House of Assembly for the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma, as disturbingly weak and lacking constitutional weight.

In a statement issued on Friday in Port Harcourt and signed by its Acting Chairman, Dr. Gabriel Toby, a former Deputy Governor of the state, the elders condemned the impeachment process, warning that it appears to be driven by narrow personal interests rather than genuine concern for good governance.

Dr. Toby stressed that impeachment is a grave constitutional process and should not be reduced to a tool for political vendetta or factional battles.

“Impeachment is a serious constitutional process, not a tool for political vendettas or factional struggles. The reasons so far advanced in support of this action are disturbingly weak, lacking substance, public interest justification, or constitutional weight. They appear driven by narrow personal interests rather than genuine concern for good governance,” he said.

The forum reminded the lawmakers that Governor Fubara’s mandate was freely given by the people of Rivers State and can only be challenged in strict compliance with the provisions of the Constitution.

Dr. Toby warned that the path being taken by the House of Assembly could further deepen the political crisis in the state, noting that Rivers State is yet to fully recover from the emergency rule previously imposed before the impeachment proceedings were resumed.

He urged the lawmakers to retrace their steps and prioritise the peace, unity, and development of the state over personal or partisan ambitions.

“We warn that the current course of action risks deepening political divisions, eroding public trust in democratic institutions, and further destabilising an already fragile polity,” he said.

Accordingly, the Rivers elders called on the House of Assembly to immediately halt the impeachment process and place the collective interest, peace, and progress of Rivers State above all other considerations.

The post Reasons for Fubara’s impeachment disturbingly weak — Rivers Elders appeared first on Vanguard News.