Politics
Why I Refused To Challenge Emergency Rule – Fubara
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has explained why he resisted the pressure from his supporters to challenge the emergency rule declared in the state by President Bola Tinubu, saying his decision was guided by a desire to secure peace, stability, and progress for the people.
Fubara stated this on Friday during a statewide broadcast after his return to the state following the expiration of the emergency rule.
The governor and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, and the Chief of Staff, Rivers State Government House, Edison Ehie, arrived at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, two days after President Bola Tinubu lifted the state of emergency imposed on the state and ordered his reinstatement.
Their aircraft with number 5N-BTX touched down at 12:15 pm and they were received to a heroic welcome.
On the ground to receive Governor Fubara were several of his supporters, including a former Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah; former Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh; former Nigerian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Orji Ngofa; former Commissioner for Environment, Sydney Gbara; and former factional Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo.
Others present were former Commissioner for Youths, Chisom Gbali; former Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Evans Bipi; former President of NUPENG, Igwe Achese; former Commissioner for Education, Dr. Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja; as well as former council chairmen of Port Harcourt City, Ezebunwo Ichemati, among others.
President Tinubu, on Wednesday, announced an end to the emergency rule, which ended the six-month tenure of ex-naval chief, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), as Rivers State sole administrator.
Rivers State has faced one of Nigeria’s fiercest political crises, pitting Fubara against his predecessor and FCT minister, Nyesom Wike.
Once allies, their fallout over control of state structures and resources split the House of Assembly, sparking impeachment moves, protests, and violence, including the burning of the Assembly complex.
President Tinubu intervened with a peace deal, which failed to calm frayed nerves, before the declaration of emergency rule.
In a statement on the cessation of the emergency rule on Wednesday, made available by the Presidency, the President said, “The Governor, His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara, the Deputy Governor, Her Excellency Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the speaker, Martins Amaewhule, will resume work in their offices from September 18, 2025.
“It, therefore, gives me great pleasure to declare that the emergency in Rivers State of Nigeria shall end with effect from midnight today (Wednesday).”
Fubara was expected to resume on Thursday as many of his supporters thronged the gate of the Government House along Azikiwe Street, Port Harcourt, as early as 6am on Thursday, but the governor failed to resume.
Assembly begins plenary
On Thursday, at its first plenary after six months, the state House of Assembly called on the governor to immediately forward the list of commissioner-nominees to it for screening and confirmation.
The plenary was presided over by Speaker Martin Amaewhule at the Conference Hall of the Legislative Quarters in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
The Assembly also called on the governor to submit the Rivers State Appropriation Bill, while noting that members would review how funds were spent during the six months of emergency rule.
In a statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker, Martins Wachukwu, the Assembly gave details of the resolution.
The statement read, “Returning from a six-month emergency rule induced by the political impasse in the state in the recent past, the Rivers State House of Assembly, on Thursday, at its first legislative sitting, through a motion, set the legislative agenda for the remaining part of the third season of the 10th Assembly.”
The statement indicated that the House Leader, Major Jack, on behalf of eight co-sponsors, in a motion, averred that the House considered it imperative to set the agenda to reflect current realities, while House members, in their contributions to the debate on the motion, applauded the motion and expressed support for all the prayers therein.
Addressing the state, Fubara described the emergency rule period as “enormously challenging” but said he willingly abided by the declaration to allow room for peace to be restored.
“As your governor, I accepted to abide by the state of emergency declaration and chose to cooperate with Mr President and the National Assembly, guided by my conviction that the sacrifice was not too great to secure peace, stability, and progress of Rivers State.
“This was why I also resisted the pressure to challenge the constitutionality of the declaration of the state of emergency, the suspension of democratic institutions and all other actions that we endured during the difficult period,” he said.
The governor commended President Tinubu for brokering a peace deal between all parties involved in the crisis, noting that the intervention helped reconcile him, Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“Our leader, Nyesom Wike, all members of Rivers State House of Assembly, and I as your governor have all accepted to bury the hatchet and embrace peace and reconciliation in the best interest of our dear state,” Fubara said.
Expressing gratitude to Tinubu, the governor reaffirmed his loyalty to the president, promising never to take his intervention for granted. He also appealed to residents who remain sceptical about the peace process.
“To those who have expressed genuine fear, frustration and uncertainty over the nature of the peace process, I assure you that your concerns are valid and understood.
“However, nothing has been irretrievably lost. There remain ample opportunities for necessary adjustments, continued reconciliation, and inclusiveness,” Fubara assured.
Fubara, however, charged political leaders, stakeholders, and institutions in the state to ensure that the peace achieved endures.
Fubara noted that with peace restored, his administration’s focus would now return fully to governance and service delivery.
‘Bond with Rivers continues’
Speaking shortly after he arrived at the Government House, Port Harcourt, the governor assured the people of the state that his government would continue to work in their best interest.
He expressed his gratitude to the people and residents of the state for the warm reception he received earlier at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa in IKwerre local government area of the state.
However, no prominent politician loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike or any of his known supporters were present at the airport to welcome the governor.
-Punch
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stop its planned National Convention until the substantive suit filed by former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, is determined.
The order was given on Tuesday in a suit by Lamido challenging his inability to get the PDP Nomination Form to contest for the National Chairmanship position despite paying for the Form.
Daily Voice reports that the court further ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should not participate in any activities relating to the convention in Ibadan or anywhere in Nigeria.
It would be recalled that Lamido had dragged the PDP before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order to halt its forthcoming national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In his suit marked FHC/ABJ/CD/2229/2025, filed by his counsel, Jephthah Chikodi Njikonye (SAN), Lamido asked the court to restrain the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from proceeding with or supervising the convention.
The former governor alleged that he was “unlawfully and illegally denied” access to the nomination form required to contest for the position of national chairman at the Ibadan convention.
According to him, the PDP’s actions violated the provisions of its constitution and internal guidelines, which guarantee equal opportunity for all eligible members to participate in internal elections.
Lamido contended that the convention’s planning process had excluded key stakeholders and failed to adhere to the party’s constitutional requirements.
He argued that the leadership’s decision to deny him a nomination form amounted to a breach of natural justice, insisting that the process should be halted until the anomaly is corrected.
The plaintiff is asking the court for a mandatory injunction compelling the PDP to issue him a nomination form for the position of national chairman before any convention can hold.
Lamido also urged the court to bar INEC from supervising, aiding, or recognizing any convention conducted without his participation, warning that doing so would give illegal legitimacy to an otherwise unconstitutional process.
Previously, Justice Peter Lifu, had refused to grant Lamido’s request for an interim order restraining the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from going ahead with the convention.
Instead, the judge directed the two defendants to appear before the court to show cause why the reliefs sought by Lamido should not be granted.
However, on Tuesday, the Court ruled in favour of Lamido after the affected parties presented their cases.
A close aide to former Kano State Governor and ex‑APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, Umar Idris Shuaibu has warned President Bola Tinubu not to underestimate the value of his principal if he wants to win the 2027 election.
Speaking with Punch, Shuaibu insisted that Ganduje’s strategic insights, vast experience, and formidable political network make him indispensable for the ruling party’s next victory.
According to Shuaibu, during Ganduje’s tenure as APC National Chairman, he presided over a wave of defections that bolstered the party’s national strength
He said, “Ganduje is a man who understands Nigerian politics at every level. He navigates challenges with foresight and strategy, turning potential crises into opportunities for party growth and unity.
If the APC wants to win in 2027, the President can not afford to underestimate the value Ganduje brings.
“High-profile entrants into the APC under his watch included key figures from rival parties and grassroots groups whose alignment shifted the political landscape.”
“Ganduje was instrumental in persuading influential opposition members to join the APC, creating alliances that reshaped the political map in several states. These moves were not just symbolic, they translated into real electoral strength,” Shuaibu explained.
Shuaibu stressed, “Few leaders have the combination of experience, political wisdom, and strategic vision that Ganduje possesses. He knows how to read the political terrain and position the party to maximise its chances of victory.
“In Kano, nearly all major political figures have aligned with the APC under Ganduje’s influence, effectively consolidating the state’s political landscape in favour of the party.”
A former governor of Rivers State and chieftain of the opposition coalition, African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has urged Nigerians to participate in the next election to stop President Bola Tinubu from getting a second term.
Speaking during the fifth anniversary lecture of the First Daily newspaper held in Abuja on Monday, Amaechi stated that the fact that Tinubu was defeated in Lagos State in 2023 showed that he is not invincible.
He urged Nigerians to prepare to vote massively in 2027 to ensure that President Bola Tinubu is defeated.
In his goodwill message, Amaechi cautioned that voter apathy and complacency allow electoral malpractice to thrive.
He said, “The first solution to electoral reform is not the government. The people are the problem. The more you say they have written the results, the more you have voter apathy. Voter apathy will make President Bola Tinubu return to Villa.”
Amaechi urged citizens to take control of the process, saying, “Tell the people the power is in your hands. Come out. If Tinubu is that invincible, how was he defeated in Lagos?
“It can be repeated but first and foremost you must agree that the man there is not invincible. The problem is the opposition.”
He added that it is unrealistic to expect a government in power to undertake an electoral reform.
“The problem with election in Nigeria is that there is no incumbent government that can achieve electoral reform. None. We already tried it and failed,” he said.
Amaechi alleged that vested interests within the political class often frustrate reform efforts.
The former Minister of Transportation also blamed opposition parties for not developing viable strategies, noting that internal division and lack of focus weaken their ability to challenge the ruling elite.
“I tell the opposition parties that you’re the problem. The opposition party is not discussing how to save Nigeria. Nobody is saying oh things are bad, how do we change the candidate,” he said.
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