Suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara may return to office as early as Thursday, June 12, following months of political upheaval in the oil-rich state.
However, fresh impeachment threats loom large, with opposition voices demanding “genuine reconciliation” as the only path to survival.
In a press briefing held in Abuja, Chief Tony Okocha, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, sharply criticized Governor Fubara for what he described as a “complete lack of commitment” to peace and political healing.
“I can confirm that there is no reconciliation effort currently underway in Rivers,” Okocha declared. “The suspended Governor, Fubara, has not made any move to reconcile with the lawmakers.
Only genuine reconciliation can save him from impeachment, as the Supreme Court judgment stands.”
Crisis Timeline and Legal Fallout
The political turmoil in Rivers escalated in March 2025, when President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency, dissolved the State House of Assembly, and suspended Fubara from office.
A caretaker administration led by retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas was installed for an initial six-month period.
The decision followed months of escalating tensions between Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly, many of whom remain loyal to former Governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Speculation Over Defection to APC
Amid swirling rumors that Fubara is negotiating a political lifeline through defection to the APC, Chief Okocha was unequivocal in his dismissal of any such strategy as a means of evading accountability.
“If Fubara decides to join the APC, it has nothing to do with the state of emergency in Rivers State. His sins cannot be forgiven because he came to our party,” Okocha stated.
“Politics is local. He must defect from his ward, and none of our ward chairmen have confirmed any such move.”
He further emphasized that “he will enter the party through the door, not the window,” suggesting that any defection must follow due process and would not automatically translate into political protection.
Justifying the Suspension
Okocha reiterated that the suspension of Fubara was not politically motivated but a necessary constitutional response to what he described as “misdemeanour in governance.”
“Don’t forget, the Supreme Court said there was no government in Rivers State. Something had to be done and that was the state of emergency,” he added, referencing the apex court’s ruling that indirectly validated the federal intervention.
Wike’s Shadow Over the Crisis
Former Governor Nyesom Wike, a central figure in Rivers State politics, has also weighed in on the situation.
In a previous press conference, Wike criticized Fubara’s leadership style and expressed disappointment over his refusal to seek reconciliation with political stakeholders.
While Wike acknowledged he was not consulted before the emergency declaration, he admitted to initially supporting the impeachment process initiated by loyal lawmakers.
Political Uncertainty Ahead of June 12
With the emergency administration nearing its end, attention now turns to whether Governor Fubara will be reinstated and under what conditions.
Analysts say the path forward remains uncertain, especially if the political fractures within the state remain unhealed.
For now, all eyes are on June 12, a date that may mark Fubara’s return to office or the beginning of an even deeper constitutional and political crisis in Rivers State.
Credit: PoliticsNigeria except headline
