Rivers Elders and Leadership Forum has condemned the impeachment notice recently issued against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Ordu, by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
This position was contained in a statement issued on Friday and signed by a former Deputy Governor of Rivers State and Acting Chairman of the Rivers Elders and Leadership Forum, Gabriel Toby.
The Forum stressed that impeachment should not be misused for political purposes, noting that “impeachment is a serious constitutional process, not a tool for political vendettas or factional struggles.”
According to the statement, the reasons cited for the impeachment notice were described as “disturbingly weak, lacking substance, public interest justification, or constitutional weight,” adding that they appear to be driven by personal interests rather than any genuine concern for good governance.
The Forum reminded the Rivers State House of Assembly that the mandate of the Governor was given by the people of the state and can only be challenged in strict adherence to constitutional provisions and due process.
It further warned that the ongoing impeachment process could deepen political divisions, “eroding public trust in democratic institutions, and further destabilizing an already fragile polity.”
The statement noted that Rivers State has yet to fully recover from the political, social, and institutional disruptions caused by the period of emergency rule in the state.
“Our people continue to bear the consequences of that episode, and this development, so early in the year, risks reopening old wounds and heightening tensions at a time when stability and focused governance are urgently needed,” it said.
The Forum called on the Rivers State House of Assembly to immediately withdraw the impeachment notice and place the collective interest, peace, and progress of Rivers State above personal considerations.
It reaffirmed its commitment to peace, unity, justice, and constitutional democracy in Rivers State.
The statement concluded, “We will not be silent in the face of any action that threatens the stability, dignity, and future of our state.”
