Two members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have appealed to their colleagues to halt the ongoing impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, and instead pursue alternative means of resolving the political crisis in the state.

The appeal was made on Monday in Port Harcourt during a press briefing by the Minority Leader of the House and lawmaker representing Omuma State Constituency, Sylvanus Nwankwo, alongside the member representing Degema State Constituency, Peter Abbey.

Nwankwo urged lawmakers to exercise restraint and consider dialogue as a more constructive option than impeachment.

“We are appealing to our colleagues to temper justice with mercy and explore ways of resolving this matter outside the impeachment process,” he said.

He explained that the intervention followed persistent appeals from elders and leaders within and outside Rivers State, who had called on the assembly to show leniency in handling the matter.

According to him, while there are allegations that the governor and his deputy may have breached constitutional provisions, lawmakers should reconsider their approach in the interest of peace and stability.

“We are begging our colleagues to reconsider their position and find an amicable solution, even though there are claims of constitutional infractions,” Nwankwo added.

Echoing the call, Abbey said lawmakers should adopt a humane approach, stressing that political tensions should be de-escalated rather than escalated.

“Governor Fubara may have infringed on parts of the constitution, but we are human beings.”

“We are pleading with our colleagues to reconsider the impeachment process,” he said.
Abbey also noted that the governor has a role to play in easing tensions by avoiding actions that could further violate constitutional provisions.

“The governor must also ensure that there are no further infringements on the constitution. That is key to achieving an amicable resolution,” he stated.

The Rivers State House of Assembly had last Thursday initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy.

The process followed the presentation of seven allegations of gross misconduct by the Leader of the House, Major Jack, based on a notice reportedly signed by 26 lawmakers.

The allegations include the demolition of the Assembly complex, extra-budgetary expenditures, withholding of funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and alleged refusal to comply with a Supreme Court ruling on the financial autonomy of state legislatures.

The impeachment move came shortly after the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, accused the governor of breaching a peace agreement brokered by President Bola Tinubu in 2025.

Former Ekiti State Governor, Chief Olusegun Oni, has defected from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Oni officially joined the APC on Sunday after registering with the party at his country home in Ifaki Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The Coordinator of the APC e-registration exercise in the state, Mr Adesola Adedayo, disclosed the development on Monday in Ado Ekiti, describing Oni’s defection as a major boost to the party’s ongoing membership registration drive.

Adedayo, who also serves as Ekiti State Commissioner for Youth Development, said the former governor’s decision to align with the APC had strengthened the party’s progressive base and reinforced its grassroots mobilisation efforts.

Oni governed Ekiti State between 2007 and 2010 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party and later emerged as the SDP governorship candidate in the 2022 election.

According to Adedayo, Oni remains a popular political figure with strong grassroots appeal and is expected to add significant value to the APC ahead of future elections.

He described the defection as a major political realignment, noting that it comes at a critical period as the state prepares for the 2026 governorship poll and the 2027 general elections.

“We registered former Governor Segun Oni as a member of our great party on Sunday. This is a significant political development that will further energise our ongoing e-registration exercise across the state,” Adedayo said.

He added that the APC leadership would intensify mobilisation efforts at the grassroots and urged party members not to relent in strengthening the party’s numerical strength.

Adedayo also noted that Oni’s registration followed shortly after Governor Biodun Oyebanji revalidated his APC membership, calling on party faithful across the state to participate actively in the e-registration exercise to enhance party cohesion and documentation.

He stressed that sustained membership drives remain crucial to the growth and electoral success of the APC in Ekiti State.

Security was significantly tightened at the Kano State Government House on Monday following reports of an impending defection by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

DAILY GAZETTE observed a heavy presence of security operatives drawn from the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services at the main entrance and key access points to the Government House.

Although no official confirmation has been issued regarding the planned defection, the governor is widely speculated to be weighing a move to the All Progressives Congress.

The security build-up included the deployment of no fewer than seven Armoured Personnel Carriers belonging to the police and the DSS.

The vehicles were positioned at strategic locations, including the main gate and the roundabout leading into the Government House.

The unusual security presence heightened political tension around the seat of power, as residents and observers monitored developments amid growing speculation over the governor’s next political move.