 |
| Rivers State House of Assembly stands vacant. |
After weeks of political tension, advocates of democracy in Nigeria’s oil-rich Rivers State are demanding that President Bola Tinubu lift the March 18 emergency order and reinstate Governor Siminalayi Fubara by May 29. An unexpected federal intervention has suspended Mr. Fubara, his deputy and the entire Rivers State House of Assembly for six months. Now, civic groups, women’s associations and some political figures say the president should restore the elected officials on May 29 – Nigeria’s Democracy Day. They argue that returning Mr. Fubara on that symbolic date, which commemorates the 1999 return to civilian rule, would affirm democratic values and bring relief to a state long divided by power struggles.
Background of the Crisis. The Fubara-Wike feud dates back to the 2023 elections. Mr. Fubara was the anointed candidate of his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, and won the March 18, 2023, gubernatorial vote by a landslide. Mr. Wike, appointed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, formally handed over to Mr. Fubara on May 29, 2023. Although Wike moved to Abuja, he kept a strong interest in Rivers affairs, even approving many of Fubara’s aides and appointments. Both men were initially allies, but by late 2023 relations had soured. In October, the split became public when lawmakers loyal to Mr. Wike moved to impeach Mr. Fubara. That month, an arson attack damaged the House of Assembly complex. Governor Fubara denied involvement, but Mr. Wike accused him of masterminding the bombing. The violence and rival legislative meetings deepened the crisis, with two competing factions claiming authority over the state’s government.
1. February 28, 2025: The Supreme Court ruled in favour of Mr. Wike’s allies. It reinstated 27 pro-Wike legislators as the legitimate assembly, halted federal funding to the state and voided recent local council elections.
2. March 18, 2025: Citing the extended crisis and threat to public safety, President Tinubu declared a six-month emergency in Rivers State. He suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the entire Rivers assembly, appointing Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (ret.) as sole administrator.
3. March 19, 2025: Tinubu swore in Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator of Rivers State in Abuja. The armed forces and police were ordered to maintain law and order as the federal government took direct control of the state.
4. April 18, 2025: The suspended governor, Sim Fubara, visited Minister Wike in Abuja to seek reconciliation. The meeting – arranged by mediators – reportedly saw Mr. Fubara prostrate himself before his former mentor. Sources say Mr. Fubara begged for peace and was told to explain the conflict truthfully to Rivers elders.
5. April 24, 2025: Hundreds of women in the Opobo Kingdom (Fubara’s home area) marched in protest. Dressed in black, they demanded the immediate reinstatement of Governor Fubara and an end to the emergency rule. Chanting “Bring back our governor” and praying for divine help, the women said the suspension was “unlawful” and called it a “usurpation of democratic authority”. Felicia Pepple, leader of the Opobo Women’s Association, praised Fubara’s record of development and pleaded with President Tinubu to restore the people’s mandate. One protester noted that Opobo felt like “a ghost town” without normal governance.
6. May 2025: Activists and local leaders have intensified calls for Fubara’s return. They say Democracy Day – May 29 – is an ideal deadline for reinstatement. They argue that the people elected Governor Fubara in 2023 and want his leadership restored.
Supreme Court and Emergency Rule. The state of emergency followed a series of court battles. In early 2025, the nation’s highest court had intervened. On February 28, the Supreme Court upheld the rights of Mr. Wike’s faction in the Rivers assembly. This decision confirmed that the 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike were the legitimate assembly, reversed Mr. Fubara’s reconstituted council chairmen, and deemed actions by the divided legislature invalid. In response, on March 14 the Wike-aligned assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara, accusing him of misusing state funds, obstructing the legislature, and making illegal appointments. Mr. Fubara had accepted the court’s rulings and begun removing disputed council officials, but the political crisis only deepened.
With the state seemingly on the brink of chaos, President Tinubu invoked Section 305 of Nigeria’s Constitution. This provision allows a president to declare an emergency in a state if “public safety” or “public order” is threatened. Lawyers who supported the move say Tinubu acted within the law. Hundreds of public-interest lawyers marched in Abuja, urging the United States government to back Nigeria’s action. They argued that under Section 305, the president had the right to step in. Placards in their protest read “Emergency rule in Rivers State is constitutional” and “Tinubu saved Rivers from anarchy”. The lawyers claimed that under Mr. Fubara, Rivers State was verging “on anarchy” because he had effectively neutralized the legislature. They noted that a recent Supreme Court judgment had labeled Governor Fubara a “despot,” and insisted that restoring order required federal action.
On March 18, Tinubu announced the emergency on national radio. He suspended Governor Fubara and his deputy, as well as all 32 members of the Rivers legislature. The next day he swore in Admiral Ibas as administrator. In Abuja, the Senate and House of Representatives gave voice-vote approval to Tinubu’s emergency declaration, though critics later challenged that vote’s validity. With these moves, the elected government of Rivers was temporarily removed, to the dismay of Fubara’s supporters and some members of the public.
Demands for Reinstatement. Since the emergency began, many Rivers people have felt disenfranchised. They see the suspension as a blow to the 2023 popular vote. Civil society groups and community elders have pressed for a quick return to democratic rule. One organizing principle has been Nigeria’s Democracy Day on May 29 – the anniversary of the end of military rule in 1999. Proponents argue Tinubu could use that day to show his commitment to democracy by reinstating the elected officials.
“May 29 is a big day in our country’s history,” said Prince Ogbonna Nwuke, a former federal lawmaker. He told Vanguard that as a democrat, the president should use Democracy Day to “convince the whole world” of his values by bringing back Governor Fubara, the deputy governor, and the House of Assembly. The Ijaw Republican Assembly – a prominent local organization – echoed this sentiment. Spokesperson Ann Kio Briggs said Fubara “has to be reinstated on May 29, being Democracy Day, so that the governor can join his colleague governors to celebrate his second year in office”. She said Rivers people would “appreciate” Tinubu if he returned their governor on that day, arguing it would “bring a lot of succor” to citizens who have suffered through two years of crisis.
Professional and ethnic groups also joined the chorus. Professor Benjamin Okaba, president of the Ijaw National Congress, said the president would “make history” by reinstating Fubara on May 29. Okaba urged Tinubu to “be the president of all Nigerians” by respecting the vote of Rivers people, and to allow them to “enjoy the governor they voted for”. Another group, the South-South Reawakening Group (SSRG), praised Fubara’s peace effort. Its convener, Dr. Joseph Ambakederimo, said Mr. Fubara had “shown that he is a man of peace” and “enough remorse,” and therefore “deserves to return to his duty post”. Dr. Ambakederimo said he met the governor in Port Harcourt and saw someone “ready to do anything for the sake of peace,” and urged Nigerians to pray for Fubara’s return.
These appeals have resonated with many ordinary citizens. In late April, women from Fubara’s home area of Opobo staged a dramatic protest. Chanting “Bring back our Governor” and sitting before a portrait of local hero King Jaja, they called the emergency rule “unlawful.” One of their leaders, Felicia Pepple, reminded the crowd that they had freely voted for Fubara as a “peaceful and amiable Governor.” “We say no to emergency rule,” she declared. The demonstrators prayed for divine help and noted that businesses and celebrations in Opobo had ground to a halt under the crisis.
Beyond grassroots rallies, some political figures have also backed calls for reinstatement. In mid-April, the Lagos branch of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) publicly urged Tinubu to restore Fubara. They said the governor had shown regret and should continue his term. Lawyers and human rights advocates have also called for a peaceful solution. The Nigerian Bar Association, Rivers branch, is said to be planning a petition reminding the presidency of the rule of law and due process. Some national opinion leaders have noted that reinstating Fubara on Democracy Day could calm tensions and set a positive tone for governance.
Opposing Views. Not everyone favors reinstatement. In fact, many Rivers State insiders, including Mr. Wike himself, have supported the emergency or even stronger action. Ex-Governor Wike has praised Tinubu’s intervention as a rescue operation. In late April he said that as a politician, he had wanted Mr. Fubara “outright removal” instead of a mere suspension. Wike told reporters that Mr. Fubara was on the verge of being impeached, and that by declaring the emergency the president had “saved the situation” and Rivers people “from that calamity and anarchy”. He added that those criticizing Tinubu should instead be “praising him” for preventing chaos.
Others have raised concerns about the legal basis of the emergency. Eleven PDP state governors have met to challenge the measure, and lawyers are preparing lawsuits, arguing the emergency violated the constitution. These opponents claim Mr. Tinubu lacked the authority to suspend an elected governor under the circumstances. For example, one Nigerian newspaper noted that the PDP governors plan to ask the Supreme Court to declare the emergency illegal, asserting that the president overstepped his powers.
Former federal minister Audu Ogbeh cautioned that this kind of intervention sets a dangerous precedent. He argued it sent a “wrong signal” – as if Nigeria still favored military-style rule – to replace an elected governor with a military administrator. Mr. Ogbeh said any use of emergency powers should be avoided “as much as possible” because it can create deep resentment. He told Channels Television that the president should convene local leaders to find a solution before reaching for emergency rule. Constitutional experts have also observed that a federal takeover of a state government disrupts the usual balance of power and accountability.
Meanwhile, supporters of the emergency say it has already brought calm. They point out that since March the streets of Port Harcourt and other cities have been peaceful, and that state funds are secured by the administrator. A group of public interest lawyers even marched to the U.S. Embassy, calling for American support of Tinubu’s action. They carried signs like “Emergency rule in Rivers State is legal” and “Tinubu saved Rivers from anarchy”. These lawyers cited the constitution and Supreme Court rulings to argue Mr. Fubara had “demolished the legislature” and endangered democracy.
Peace Deal Speculations. Much of the current debate centers on how peace might be maintained if Fubara returns to office. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Mr. Wike and Mr. Fubara may have reached some understanding during their meetings. Some news accounts say there is a tacit agreement to share key appointments between Fubara’s camp and the so-called “Abuja bloc” loyal to Wike. Under this rumored formula, future commissioners and local government officials would be chosen to balance both interests. For example, one insider hinted that winners of scheduled local council elections (now postponed) will be vetted to ensure they are acceptable to all parties. The media has speculated that Mr. Fubara’s second coming could come with strings attached – raising fears that he might govern under heavy influence from Abuja. Vanguard News asked, “Is he going to be a puppet governor who will dance whenever the string is pulled from outside the state?”.
There is no official confirmation of any deal. Mr. Fubara’s spokesperson has so far declined to comment on the talks, and the details of his discussions with Mr. Wike remain secret. But many in Rivers worry about the fate of politicians who backed Mr. Fubara. A class of “Atiku elders” who earlier resisted Wike’s patronage may find their influence eroded once normal politics resumes. On the other hand, Fubara’s supporters stress that the governor ran on a joint ticket with Atiku Abubakar and the PDP, and that defying the voters now would be a betrayal of the people.
Implications and Next Steps. Nigeria’s Democracy Day on May 29 is now a looming test of federal-state relations. Analysts say that how President Tinubu handles this situation could shape his reputation on democracy and rule of law. If Mr. Fubara is reinstated, it could ease local tensions in Rivers and demonstrate federal respect for the popular mandate. But if he is kept out of office, critics warn it may fuel further unrest and deepen distrust in government.
At a national level, the episode highlights fractures within the ruling party and its relationship with rivals. Mr. Wike’s own comments have exposed fissures in the PDP: he publicly questioned his party’s readiness for future elections and even dangled threats to defect if party issues are not fixed. The handling of the Rivers crisis also shows how President Tinubu balances competing interests – between a former powerful governor in his cabinet, an embattled junior partner from his own zone, and the expectations of local citizens.
As the May 29 deadline approaches, all eyes are on Abuja. Will Mr. Tinubu heed the calls to end the emergency and restore Governor Fubara on Democracy Day? Supporters say such a move would “bring succour” to Rivers people. Others caution that any decision must secure lasting peace and not just paper over the conflict. In the meantime, Rivers State remains under military-backed rule, its elected officials sidelined, and its people hopeful for a return to normalcy.