The Rivers State House of Assembly has insisted that the impeachment process against Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers State, and Ngozi Odu, his deputy, will proceed without reversal.
The lawmakers, who spoke during a live press briefing in Port Harcourt on Friday, alleged that the governor had resorted to blackmail amid the deepening political crisis in the state.
According to them, the governor no longer commands the confidence required to manage the unfolding situation in the oil-producing state.
The assembly accused the governor of violating provisions of the 1999 Constitution, arguing that his actions had undermined constitutional governance.
According to the legislators, the alleged breaches left the parliament with no alternative but to invoke its legislative authority to commence impeachment proceedings.
Meanwhile, four members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who had earlier withdrawn from the impeachment exercise on grounds of reconciliation reversed their stance on Friday and declared renewed backing for the process.
The legislators, who had earlier called for a resolution, claimed that Fubara has shown no remorse over the allegations levelled against him by the assembly.
With the latest reversal by the four legislators, the impeachment process appears to have regained momentum within the House.
Martin Amaewhule, the assembly speaker has also asked Chief Judge of the state to set up panel to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct against the governor and his deputy.