Two prominent lawmakers from the Rivers House of Assembly, Sylvanus Nwankwo and Peter Abbey, have publicly appealed for leniency concerning the proposed impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Nma Odu. This plea was delivered on Monday during a joint briefing held in Port Harcourt, signaling a potential shift in the highly tense political climate of the state.

Sylvanus Nwankwo, identified as the House Majority Leader in one report and the Minority Leader of the assembly in another, urged his colleagues to temper justice with mercy. He explicitly cited various interventions from state leaders, residents, and constituents as the reason for their appeal, requesting that the impeachment process be stalled. Nwankwo affirmed, "We unanimously issued the notice, but following interventions, we appeal for leniency and dialogue to resolve differences and halt impeachment."

Echoing Nwankwo's sentiments, Peter Abbey, the lawmaker representing Degema State Constituency, also called for peace and urged fellow members to discontinue the impeachment proceedings. He acknowledged that the governor and his deputy had committed constitutional infractions but argued that granting leniency would strengthen prospects for amicable governance and provide them with an opportunity to adhere strictly to the rule of law going forward.

Both Nwankwo and Abbey were among the 26 members who had initially and unanimously endorsed the impeachment notice against Governor Fubara and his deputy. They are known loyalists of former Governor Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as the FCT minister. Their public intervention is widely interpreted by political observers as a significant withdrawal from the intense impeachment push that has substantially heightened tensions across the state.

The underlying cause of this legislative crisis is the persistent feud between Governor Fubara and former Governor Wike. This current impeachment notice marks the third attempt to remove Mr. Fubara in less than three years. Previous efforts led to a deeply divided legislature, prompting President Bola Tinubu to intervene by declaring a six-month state of emergency in the oil-rich state and suspending the governor, deputy governor, and the lawmakers involved, underscoring the severity of the political instability.

The legislators, including Nwankwo and Abbey, emphasized that the prevailing political climate urgently demands calm, constructive dialogue, and a "cooling-off period" within the assembly. They expressed a desire for wisdom and truth to prevail in the legislative chambers, prioritizing the overall interest and stability of Rivers State above partisan disagreements. While the lawmakers have accused the governor of constitutional breaches and administrative misconduct, these allegations have been consistently dismissed by his supporters as being politically motivated.