Rivers

Rivers APC Ready to Work With Fubara, Says Okocha

by
Rivers APC Ready to Work With Fubara, Says Okocha

Ahead of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s reinstatement to office on September 18, the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State has declared its readiness to work with him when he is reinstated. The APC said collaborating with the governor will not stop the main opposition in the state from holding Fubara accountable on issues of governance. The state APC Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, made the declaration during a news briefing in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, on Tuesday. Okocha assured all that the APC would continue to consolidate on its membership base while also offering constructive criticism of the Fubara administration after his return. He said, “The governor who was suspended will return to office on September 18. The APC will work with him when he returns. “There are states where the governor and assembly members are in different parties, so we are going to work with him. “However, that will not take away our right to criticise him when he does wrong. But for us, the LG chairmen will work with him, except that we will not agree to vicious policies.” Okocha described the just-concluded local government elections in the state as an introduction to the 2027 general elections, noting that the APC deliberately chose not to field candidates in strongholds of the Peoples Democratic Party but concentrated on areas where it had a comparative advantage. “The Rivers State LG election is a prelude to what will happen in 2027. “Whilst we were campaigning, I told our people that there is a need for us to believe in the centre and leave the periphery. “We did not field candidates in Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt City, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGAs because we do not have the strength in those areas. “It was our own calculated strategy not to field candidates in those LGAs and concentrate only where we have a comparative advantage. Remember that Rivers State was a PDP state,” Okocha explained. He expressed optimism about the party’s growing influence, contrasting its position in the 2023 elections with its current status. “In 2023, APC in Rivers State had no shoes. Now we are wearing psychedelic shoes. “We are going to double and redouble our membership for the President. As far as my party is concerned, we will be fielding him for a second term in 2027,” he said. Okocha took a swipe at the PDP, saying the party was collapsing and its members were defecting in droves to the APC, which he said now calls the shots. He stressed, “PDP is in tatters and people are leaving them in droves for other parties, and we’re privileged to have them. “We’ll continue our pleas for the PDP members, particularly the FCT Minister, to come over to the APC and have peace. The PDP is in tatters.” Recall that Fubara was suspended from office by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, after he declared a state of emergency in Rivers State following rising political tensions in the state. Tinubu had based his action on the attack on oil facilities in the state by militants who were allegedly sympathetic to the governor, accusing Fubara of not doing anything to stop the threats to cause mayhem. The President then appointed former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) as Administrator of the state for an initial six-month period. Last Saturday, while speaking to newsmen after casting his vote in the just concluded local government elections, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said that with the poll, the ‘coast’ was now clear for Fubara to be reinstated. Punch

Extending State of Emergency Beyond September 18 Deadline Will Trigger Unrest In Rivers – Bode George

by
Extending State of Emergency Beyond September 18 Deadline Will Trigger Unrest In Rivers – Bode George

  IBADAN – One of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftains, Chief Bode George has warned that extension of emergency rule in River state beyond September 18 would trigger crisis among the people of the state, just as he also condemned the Emergency Rule declared in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, which suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for six months. President Bola Tinubu had invoked the emergency rule following political face-off between the governor and his predecessor- godfather, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The state lawmakers were divided to the stage of plotting impeachment of the governor. Commenting on the scenario, George said that the state of emergency was unwarranted in the first place. He likened the scenario to the crisis that led to the “Wetie” uprising in the Western Region, and the eventual Civil War of 1967 that ravaged the country for three years. Speaking on “Frontline”, a political programme of Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu, the former Deputy National Chairman, South, of the party, warned the Federal Government against extending the emergency rule beyond September 18 if it does not want trouble to ensue in the state. He also warned the Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok- Eke Ibas, to tread softly on whatever action he takes, stressing that he would give account after he leaves office. He said, “We have refused to learn from history and we have continued to repeat the same mistake. Even the situation to create a State of Emergency is not in conformity, and it will be an issue for the next general election. If you just think you can wield your power, extraordinary power, without caution, they are telling us there are no rules in this country. Was there violence in Rivers state? Was there violence in Port- Harcourt or at the Bonny? Was there violence in Ekwere land? There was no violence. “They said there was explosion; who saw it? Who died? Who monitored the explosion? The governor resides in Port-Harcourt and you would have seen the humility and the absolute commitment to the Almighty principle demonstrated by him. He has been calm and I want to congratulate the whole people of Rivers that they did not revert to violence or any action that would have projected them as violent people. They were calm. So, why would you now go and impose state of emergency? Just like Fela Anikulapo sang many years ago, trouble dey sleep, yangan go wake am. Wetin you go find? Na palava you go get. “Now within that period,Extending State of Emergency Beyond September 18 Deadline Will Trigger Unrest In Rivers – Bode George a non-elective person is there. He was my junior in the Navy, and so I am advising him to be very cautious. How can a non-elective person run a local government election? On behalf of whom? At the same time, you are setting up certain board. Are you the elected person? You are just there like a spare tyre or a standby generator. It will soon become a national issue. You may be called back to come and explain yourself on some things you have done. “So, my advice to the young man is to be careful. This is civil rule where you need people to behave from zero to infinity. It is unlike in the Military. You need to work with people, no matter what. This is not like in the Military where you are cocooned with certain behaviour. So, he should treat softly”, Chief George, a member of the Board of Trustees of the party warned. On the possibility of President Bola Tinubu extending the emergency rule after September 18, the former Army General, Electronics and Computer Engineer, said, “Never, never! It will be a case of yanga dey sleep, wahala go wake am. The people will not accept because you are shortchanging them. They had an election and they had somebody elected. That young Administrator should just leave and go home. We are pleading because there would be a day after governance. How will you want to be remembered? This thing is not personal”, he said.

Court Dismisses Order Seeking to Stop Rivers LG Poll

by
Court Dismisses Order Seeking to Stop Rivers LG Poll

  A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Thursday dismissed an ex parte order seeking to stop the August 30 Local Government elections in the state. The Presiding Judge, Justice Stephen Jumbo, in his ruling in a suit filed by a Port Harcourt-based legal practitioner, Williams Abayomi-Stanley, against President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, and its Chairman, said the application for motion ex parte lacked merit and thereby dismissed it. Jumbo, however, granted a motion ex parte order for substituted service to the defendants but directed that the conduct of the August 30th LG elections should go ahead as scheduled and adjourned till September 10, 2025, for a hearing on the substantive suit. Speaking to newsmen outside the courtroom, counsel to the claimant, Godsent Elewa, said his client was in court to seek for interpretation of a section of the RSIEC law and the Constitution of Nigeria as amended if the president has the powers to appoint a Chairman and members of the commission to conduct local LG polls in the state. Elewa, while narrating what led to the dismissal of his application, however, welcomed the ruling of the court, which granted one of his motions and expressed his readiness to continue with the proceeding on the next adjourned date. He stated, “My client, Williams Stanley-Abayomi, is a Constitutional lawyer and an indigene of Rivers State from Emuoha LGA. The applicant basically is in Court to seek the interpretations of some Sections, particularly section 2 sub 1 and section 3 sub 1 of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law number 12, 2018 and Sections 197, 198 and 200 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as altered.” He, however, said he has nothing against the Court ruling, especially as one of the prayers of his client was granted. “We have two motions ex parte, the first was the motion ex parte for an interim injunction to restrain the conduct of the August 30 local government elections. Unfortunately, the Court dismissed that motion as it lacked merit and adjourned to the 10th of September for all the parties to be served with our substantive processes and for us to argue the main application. “The second order was an order for substituted service to be effected on the first and the second defendants, which are President Bola Tinubu and the Attorney-General of the Federation. So these were the two orders the court granted today”, he concluded.

Security Operatives Teargas Pro-Fubara Protesters In Rivers

by

  Security operatives on Monday fired tear gas at women protesting against the emergency rule in Rivers State and the reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The protesters from Elleye and Engine in Ahead East Local Government Area, numbering about 200, condemned the appointment of a Sole Administrator in the state. As the women marched and chanted solidarity songs in support of Fubara, they displayed placards with various inscriptions while security operatives, including the police, tried to stop them from advancing. Some of the inscriptions on the placards reads, ‘Ibas leave us alone’,’Our democracy is threatened’, and among others. Following the refusal of the women to back down on the protest, operatives, including the police fired tear gas to dispatch the woman who ran helter-skelter. A viral video which later surfaced showed some of the women crying after inhaling the substance from the teargas canister, insisting that they want Governor Fubara to return to power. Some of the women sat on the ground and rained causes on the policeman, saying, “No Sim no Rivers State’. Details later… Punch

JUST IN: Refund N300m Confab Hosting Rights, Rivers Tells NBA

by

  The Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has replied to the Nigerian Bar Association regarding the reason for relocating its Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu State. Ibas faulted the reason cited by the NBA, describing it as misleading and uncharitable. The Sole Administrator stated this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday by his media aide, Hector Igbikiowubo, and sent to newsmen. He said while the NBA reserves the right to choose a venue for its conference, the association had yet to address the issue of the refund of the hosting rights paid by the state government for the conference. The statement partly reads, “While we respect the NBA’s right to choose its conference venues, we find it curious that the association—despite its “principled position”— didn’t address the refund of the N300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government for the hosting rights of the 2025 conference. “If the NBA truly stands on principle, it should demonstrate the same integrity by promptly returning these funds rather than benefiting from a state it now publicly discredits.” It added, “The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to the Nigeria Bar Association’s announcement dated 10th April 2025, relocating its 2025 Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu. “We find the reasons cited for this decision—particularly the insinuation that the Sole Administrator’s actions have undermined democracy and the rule of law—to be misleading, uncharitable, and unbecoming of an association that prides itself on upholding justice and fairness. “The NBA’s statement overlooks the constitutional basis for the current administration in Rivers State. “The declaration of a state of emergency was a necessary response to a breakdown of public order and democratic processes.” The Sole Administrator further said that Bola Tinubu, in exercising his constitutional authority, acted in the best interest of the state to restore stability. The statement continued, “The Sole Administrator’s mandate is clear: to oversee a transitional period that ensures the return of full democratic governance in line with the Constitution. “To suggest that this intervention ‘flouts the rule of law’ is not only incorrect but ignores the Supreme Court’s rulings that have validated key decisions made during this period. “In the event the NBA is not aware, may we refer the association to the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court in Suit No. SC/CV/1176/2024 (Rivers State House of Assembly & Others vs. Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) & Nine Others), where the apex court unequivocally ruled that any local government election conducted in violation of the Electoral Act is “unconstitutional, null, and void.” It said contrary to the NBA’s assertions, the Sole Administrator has consistently reaffirmed his commitment to the NBA, as a body of legal minds, should know better than to reduce a complex constitutional matter to political sensationalism. While appealing for constructive engagement, the statement said, “Rivers State is passing through a challenging but necessary phase in its democratic journey. “Rather than contributing to unnecessary tension, we expect the NBA—as a critical stakeholder in Nigeria’s democracy—to engage constructively, offering solutions instead of amplifying divisive narratives. “The Sole Administrator remains focused on his mandate to stabilize the state and facilitate a smooth return to full constitutional governance. We urge the NBA and other well-meaning Nigerians to support this process in the interest of peace and progress.” Punch

Police Teargas Protesters In Rivers, Abuja Over Emergency Rule, Repression

by

  Officers of the Nigeria Police Force on Monday morning fired tear gas at protesters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, in a bid to disperse crowds demonstrating against government repression and the state of emergency in Rivers. In Port Harcourt, protesters under the aegis of the Take It Back Movement had gathered at the Isaac Boro Park by 9 a.m. to rally against the controversial state of emergency imposed in Rivers and what they described as the misuse of the Cybercrime Act by law enforcement authorities. The demonstration quickly descended into chaos when police officers arrived at the scene and discharged tear gas, forcing protesters to flee in different directions. Eyewitnesses say some of the demonstrators, including journalists covering the event, were physically assaulted by the officers. Members of the group claim they had duly informed the police of their intention to protest in a letter dated April 3, 2025. The protest in Rivers comes weeks after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state, following the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara due to escalating political tensions. Meanwhile, in Abuja, a similar protest in the Maitama area was also forcefully dispersed by police operatives. The demonstrators had gathered peacefully to voice their grievances over rising economic hardship, insecurity, and what they labelled increasing authoritarianism by the federal government. The protesters carried placards with slogans such as “Stop the Repression” and “Let Us Breathe,” drawing attention to the alleged abuse of the Cybercrime Act and the broader human rights situation in the country. Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore was among those present in Abuja to lend support to the protest. The nationwide protest was convened by the Take It Back Movement in conjunction with other civil society organisations. In a statement released last Friday, the group’s national coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, said the demonstration aimed to resist “increasing authoritarianism” and demand urgent relief for Nigerians grappling with inflation and insecurity. Similar protests were also reported in Lagos and several other state capitals across the country

Emergency rule in Rivers, political manipulation—Atiku

by

  Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as “political manipulation and outright bad faith.” Atiku accused Tinubu of being a “vested partisan actor” in the ongoing political turmoil in the state, alleging that his administration either enabled or failed to prevent the crisis. “His blatant refusal or calculated negligence in preventing this escalation is nothing short of disgraceful,” Atiku said in a statement on Tuesday via X. He further condemned the security breaches that led to the destruction of national infrastructure in Rivers, insisting that the responsibility lies with the President. “If federal infrastructure in Rivers has been compromised, the President bears full responsibility,” he said. “Punishing the people of Rivers State just to serve the political gamesmanship between the governor and Tinubu’s enablers in the Federal Government is nothing less than an assault on democracy and must be condemned in the strongest terms,” he added. Atiku also accused Tinubu of reversing the peace achieved in the Niger Delta under former President Umaru Yar’Adua, stating that his administration has thrown the region “back into an era of violent unrest and instability.” The former Vice President called on Nigerians to reject what he termed as a political scheme, insisting that the situation in Rivers should not be used as a tool for partisan interests. Punch

Rivers Denies Reports Of Obasanjo, PANDEF Visit To Fubara

by

  The Rivers State Government has debunked social media reports that former President, Olusegun Obasanjo and a delegation of the Pan Niger Delta Forum paid a visit to the state governor, Similarly, Fubara, last Sunday. The state government said the claim was malicious from those trying to cause chaos and lawlessness in the state, describing it as fake news. This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Nelson Chukwudi, in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. Chukwudi said the claims do not deserve a response but for the impression it may create in the minds of the public, insisting that neither Obasanjo nor a delegation by PANDEF visited the state Government House. The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to a malicious post circulating on social media, claiming that a delegation of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum paid a Solidarity Visit on Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, in Government House on Sunday, March 16, 2025. There is also another planted by some people bent on causing chaos and anarchy in the State, alleging that former President Olusegun Obasanjo, paid a visit to the Governor in Government House, Port Harcourt. “Ordinarily, we would not have responded to these spurious claims and obvious fake news on social media, but for the erroneous impression they may create on the minds of gullible and unsuspecting members of the public, and indeed, well-meaning Rivers people. For that reason, let it be clarified that there was no such visit by any delegation of PANDEF to Governor Fubara on the said date, neither did Chief Obasanjo visit him as claimed by our detractors. “So, whatever the purveyors of the vexatious narratives are pushing on social media are only the imagination of enemies of the state, who do not want peace, good governance and even development that the present administration has been working hard to bequeath to the present and future generations. The governor has made it abundantly clear that he would comply and implement, to the fullest, the judgment of the Supreme Court on the political crisis in the State. “He has already initiated processes to ensure that orders of the apex court are implemented, but the Rivers State House of Assembly has refused to cooperate with the governor to facilitate the resolution of all issues raised by the court. As stated earlier, the governor is ready any day, any time to do the needful to ensure the resolution of the issues and smooth functioning of all arms of government in the state.” Punch

Explosion Rocks Trans Niger Pipeline In Rivers

by

  An explosion has rocked a section of the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo Community in Gonna Local Government Area of Rivers State. The explosion occurred late on Monday night near the Bodo-Bonny Road under construction. Trans Niger pipeline explosion scene. Photo Credit Dennis Naku Thick black smoke was seen billowing into the atmosphere, with a raging fire spreading fast into the mangrove from a video that emerged on Tuesday morning. The TNP is a federal transport line that supplies oil to the Bonny Export Terminal in Rivers State. When contacted, the Police spokesperson in the state, Grace Iringe-Koko said she would find out and get back to our reporter, though she had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report. Details later….. Punch

Rivers Will Receive Federal Allocation Despite Legal Battle – FG

by

  The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation says it will adhere to court orders regarding the disbursement of federal allocations to Rivers State, following recent legal controversies surrounding the state’s financial entitlements. Speaking to The PUNCH on Friday, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the OAGF, Bawa Mokwa, said, “We are going to obey court order. “Since there is a notice of appeal, the notice of appeal has overridden the earlier court judgment. So far, it is a court order that we will obey; if there is a notice of appeal, Rivers will be paid.” The assurance comes amid a Federal High Court ruling on October 30, 2024, which directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to withhold further monthly allocations to Rivers State. The court ruled that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s presentation of the 2024 budget to a four-member House of Assembly was unconstitutional. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who delivered the judgment, stated that since January 2024, allocations received and spent by the state were based on an illegitimate budget, describing it as a “constitutional aberration.” The ruling raised questions over the legitimacy of the State House of Assembly’s composition and its authority to approve budgets. The judge contended that the governor’s actions ignored constitutional requirements for budget approval by a fully constituted House of Assembly. Delivering judgment in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/984/2024, Justice Abdulmalik declared that decisions made by the four-member Fubara-backed Assembly were void, referencing prior rulings by the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal that had annulled its authority. The ruling also held that Fubara’s actions violated Sections 91 and 96 of the 1999 Constitution, and warned that any continued bypassing of legislative processes constituted an affront to the rule of law. The court’s decision followed a suit filed by the State House of Assembly faction led by Martin Amaewhule, challenging the legitimacy of the four-member faction loyal to Fubara. The Amaewhule-led Assembly had earlier declared in July that all state expenditures would be halted until the governor resubmitted his budget to the legitimate legislative body. Justice Abdulmalik denied a request to stay the proceedings, dismissing the application as “frivolous and vexatious.” She also refused to recuse herself from the case, rejecting the defence’s allegations of bias. However, the Rivers State Government swiftly filed a notice of appeal against the ruling. This came as the governor celebrated one of the failed attempts to impeach him by the Amaewhule-led state Assembly faction loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, earlier told The PUNCH that the judgment had been appealed, expressing optimism that the Appeal Court would upturn the judgment. He said the pointers to the anticipated judgment were glaring, adding that they were unperturbed as they had already instituted an appeal against the Federal High Court’s judgment. The OAGF has now confirmed that the appeal effectively overrides the earlier court decision, ensuring that allocations to the state will continue pending the final outcome of the legal process.

Stay Informed. Stay Ahead

Get breaking news and top stories delivered to your inbox every morning.

You have been successfully Subscribed! Ops! Something went wrong, please try again.

Get the Morning Briefing

Tops stories from Nigeria delivered free to your inbox every day.

You have been successfully Subscribed! Ops! Something went wrong, please try again.

Your No 1 Trusted News Source 

Email info@citybuzz.com 

Web Citybuzznews.com

LEGAL

SECTIONS

©Copyright Citybuzz News. All rights reserved.