Suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Odu And Lawmakers Set For September 18 Reinstatement

 

The political temperature in Rivers State is expected to change significantly on September 18 when Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Professor Ngozi Odu, and members of the state House of Assembly are reinstated following a six-month suspension. The return of the embattled leaders marks the close of an emergency administration imposed by President Bola Tinubu in March after months of acrimonious disputes between rival political camps brought governance in the oil-rich state to a halt.

Conversations in political circles across Port Harcourt and Abuja suggest that the curtain is finally drawing on the temporary rule of retired Rear Admiral Joseph Ibas, who was appointed sole administrator by the federal government in March. Ibas is under directive from the Presidency to finalise a detailed handover note before leaving for a scheduled vacation next week. The note, according to insiders, will cover financial inflows, expenditures on state projects, and funds inherited from the suspended administration.

Reports filtering from the Villa indicate that the Governor’s reinstatement is not a straightforward return to power. Sources familiar with the negotiations confirm that Fubara has accepted a set of conditions brokered by the Presidency and his estranged political benefactor, Nyesom Wike, current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Under the agreement, the governor will complete his tenure but has renounced any plan to contest the 2027 election. Furthermore, he has agreed to recognise Wike’s dominance within the state’s political structure.

According to an authoritative insider, the FCT Minister will take the lead in nominating candidates for upcoming local government elections under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. This arrangement effectively places the local political machinery in the hands of Wike’s loyalists while Fubara focuses on completing his tenure peacefully.

Another part of the agreement reportedly demands that the governor pay all pending allowances and entitlements owed to 27 lawmakers aligned with Wike, who were earlier suspended amid the bitter fallout in the House of Assembly. These legislators, the Supreme Court affirmed earlier this year, remain valid members of the legislature despite their alleged defection. The apex court ruled in February that the lawmakers cannot be excluded from legislative activities, stressing that a functional legislature is central to the survival of democracy.

Political watchers note that this ruling was a turning point in the drawn-out crisis. It undermined arguments from Fubara’s camp that the defected lawmakers had lost their seats, and instead restored their legitimacy as members of the Assembly. By extension, the judgment weakened the governor’s base and forced a compromise that paved the way for the federal intervention in March.

When President Tinubu declared emergency rule on March 18, he described Rivers State as trapped in political paralysis, with citizens unable to access governance or enjoy the dividends of democracy. Invoking Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, the President insisted that the state could not continue in a vacuum without a functional legislature and executive.

The intervention was not without controversy, but it temporarily restored order in a state long seen as one of Nigeria’s economic powerhouses. Over the past six months, Ibas has overseen administration, managing revenues, and keeping the machinery of government afloat, albeit with limited room to manoeuvre politically.

As September 18 approaches, anticipation is rising among residents who are eager to see their elected leaders resume their duties. However, many remain cautious, aware that the fragile truce between Fubara and Wike may not hold indefinitely. Analysts caution that Rivers politics is rarely predictable, and even carefully negotiated settlements can unravel quickly if either side perceives betrayal.

Public opinion in Port Harcourt appears split. Some residents welcome the governor’s return, seeing it as a restoration of democratic order. Others express frustration that the conditions imposed on him effectively limit his independence and could reduce his administration to a caretaker role under Wike’s influence. Civil society groups have also raised concerns that the financial obligations to the lawmakers may drain funds that could have been directed to development projects.

Despite the concerns, the consensus is that the state cannot afford another prolonged impasse. Political commentators argue that Fubara must now demonstrate maturity by steering clear of fresh confrontations and focusing on stabilising governance. The Assembly, on its part, is expected to cooperate under the new understanding, creating space for the governor to complete his tenure.

As the deadline for the emergency rule winds down, the people of Rivers State await clarity. September 18 promises to be a defining day in the state’s political journey, setting the tone for whether peace and governance will truly return or whether the lingering rivalry between Fubara and Wike will resurface once again.