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Tag: Fubara

Rivers Lawmakers Return N100,000 Christmas Bonus, Criticize Fubara’s Unlawful Spending

Wale busari03 mins

Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have returned the N100,000 Christmas bonus credited to their accounts by Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, describing the gift as unsolicited and unapproved. The lawmakers said the governor’s action reflects a pattern of spending state funds without following legal procedures. The bonus had been part of a festive payout intended for civil servants and certain public office holders in the state. In a statement on Tuesday night, signed by Hon. Enemi Alabo George, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, the Assembly confirmed that the funds were promptly returned to the state treasury. George said: “On December 30, 2025, Honourable Members of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly received bank credit alerts of one hundred thousand naira (N100,000) each. The said unsolicited and unapproved amount was transferred on the instructions of Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara to members’ personal accounts. Upon discovering the unauthorized transfers, the House took immediate action to return the funds to the account of the Rivers State Government.” He stressed that the Assembly, as a law-abiding institution, will not participate in any activity that bypasses legal procedures. George also accused the governor of repeatedly withdrawing funds from the Consolidated Revenue Accounts of the state since 2023 without legislative approval, despite warnings from the House and rulings from the Supreme Court. He added: “All public expenditures must follow due process, including legislative approval. Since assuming office in 2023, the Governor has consistently withdrawn from the state’s consolidated revenue accounts without approval, in defiance of the Constitution and principles of separation of powers. We are aware of unlawful conduct by staff who collude with the Governor and will continue to hold them accountable.”

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Fubara Reassigns Christopher Green As Rivers Attorney General In Cabinet Shake-Up

Wale busari02 mins

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has reorganised his cabinet, leading to the appointment of a new Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice. In the reshuffle, Christopher Green was reassigned from the Ministry of Sports to head the Ministry of Justice. He will serve as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice while temporarily retaining responsibility for the Sports Ministry until a replacement is named. The position became vacant after the exit of former Attorney General Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, whose removal followed a Supreme Court ruling that brought legal closure to the political crisis in the state. The apex court judgment nullified the appointment of commissioners screened and confirmed by the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led three-member House of Assembly, leaving several cabinet positions vacant and disrupting the State Executive Council. The ruling has reportedly worsened tensions between the executive and the House of Assembly, making it difficult for the governor to forward new nominees for legislative screening. To avoid governance gaps, Governor Fubara opted for an internal reshuffle, reassigning existing commissioners to maintain administrative continuity across key ministries. The changes were confirmed in a statement by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr Honour Sirawoo, who said the decision was taken in the interest of stability and effective governance while political and legislative issues are being addressed.

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Wike Declares Backing Tinubu Won’t Guarantee Fubara 2027 Governorship Ticket

Wale busari05 mins

Former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared that backing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not automatically secure Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara a ticket for the 2027 governorship election. Wike made the statement over the weekend during a visit to Emohua Local Government Area, in what is widely seen as a new escalation in his ongoing political feud with Fubara. The two leaders have been at odds for years over control of Rivers State politics, a conflict that previously led to the burning of the State House of Assembly complex and prompted President Tinubu to declare a six-month state of emergency in the state. The crisis also resulted in the defection of 27 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers loyal to Wike to the All Progressives Congress (APC), triggering multiple court battles. Additionally, several caretaker committee chairmen aligned with Fubara defected to the Action People’s Party (APP) ahead of local government elections and went on to win their seats. During the height of the standoff, President Tinubu reportedly brokered a peace agreement between Wike and Fubara, with sources claiming that one condition of the settlement was that Fubara would not contest the 2027 governorship election. Following the end of the state of emergency in September and the reinstatement of the deputy governor and lawmakers, political observers expected calm to return. Earlier this month, Fubara officially defected from the PDP to the APC after meeting President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He later announced his defection at a Government House event in Port Harcourt, pledging his support for the President, days after some state assembly members had also joined the APC. Responding to Fubara’s defection, Wike downplayed the significance of such support, stressing that aligning with Tinubu does not guarantee electoral success. “The issue is not whether you support Tinubu or not. That decision was taken long ago. Nobody needs to come here to tell me they are for Tinubu. Supporting Tinubu will not earn anyone a ticket,” Wike said. He added, “The Rivers State House of Assembly has done its job. They were the first in Nigeria to declare that, on your mandate, they would stand. So the Tinubu issue is no longer an issue. Who in Rivers State is not for Tinubu? That alone cannot guarantee anyone a ticket. “The same people who recently made public declarations are the same ones who took the Assembly to court seeking to have their seats declared vacant. All those now chanting ‘on your mandate we stand’ failed when it mattered most. They could not vote for Bola Ahmed Tinubu. “We have never wavered in our support for Bola Ahmed Tinubu. When we take decisions, we do so out of conviction, not because of what others are doing.”

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Fubara: Rivers State Met N600 Billion In Treasury After Emergency Rule

Wale busari03 mins

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has clarified that Administrator Ibot-Eke Ibas left N600 billion in the state treasury at the end of the six-month emergency rule declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He also noted that his administration had left N300 billion in the account before the emergency rule commenced. The emergency rule was in effect from March 18 to September 18, when it was lifted. Fubara spoke on the state’s finances during the inauguration of the 14.2km Obodhi-Ozochi Road in Ahoada East and Ahoada West, a project initiated by former Governor Nyesom Wike and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. His administration redesigned the road. The governor made the remarks following repeated claims by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, that Vice Admiral Ibas left N600 billion in the treasury. Addressing the crowd mobilized by his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, Fubara encouraged Amaewhule to translate the support into votes for President Tinubu’s reelection in 2027. Fubara emphasized that his administration has maintained detailed records of all expenditures and promised to release them soon. He stressed that his government would not be linked to fraudulent activities in project execution. “When we left during the emergency rule, our records are there. We left over N300 billion, and when we returned, we met about N600 billion. Every penny spent is documented, and the evidence will be shown in the next six months,” he said. He added: “There is no issue with how we are using the funds or what we met. Nobody can question my integrity. I am not associated with fraudulent acts. The record of your money and how it is being spent is intact. We have strong projects ongoing. Perhaps some believe otherwise because we don’t flag-off projects unnecessarily.” Fubara further explained his administration’s approach to project delivery: “We believe in commissioning projects rather than spending on flag-offs and commissioning separately. We save the money and present completed projects to the people. Call me any day, the records are there.”

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Fubara Explains Why He Left PDP For APC To Support Tinubu In Rivers State

Wale busari03 mins

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), leaving the crisis-hit Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to reciprocate President Bola Tinubu’s efforts in stabilising the state. Fubara said his move was also aimed at aligning Rivers State with the Tinubu-led federal government. He made the remarks during his formal reception into the APC at the State Government House, Port Harcourt. During the ceremony, Fubara completed his APC membership form and other necessary documents, receiving his party slip and membership card. The APC delegation was led by Rivers State APC Chairman Chief Tony Okocha and Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo. Speaking after receiving his card, Fubara said, “I took this decision as my return of favour; my own clearing the bush to ensure that his (Tinubu’s) re-election in 2027 will be easy and smooth in this state. Now that we are all in one party – I know we have always supported, but from different flats – we are inside one flat. The job is now easy to fulfil what we have promised the President.” Fubara also vowed to strengthen the APC in the state, saying, “I want to assure the National Executive and the state chairman representing the national chairman that we will do everything to keep APC as the main and active progressive party in Rivers State. From this minute, it is my responsibility to ensure the party is properly managed. Every need of the executive committee and the party becomes my duty. We have a task ahead: to promote the President’s agenda, engage key stakeholders, and ensure a smooth political path for APC in Rivers State.”

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JUST IN: Fubara Defects To APC After Getting Tinubu’s Approval

Wale busari02 mins

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has confirmed that he is preparing to leave the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress, a move that reshapes the political atmosphere in the state. Speaking at a stakeholder session in Government House on Tuesday, the governor explained that the decision was guided by what he described as the broader interest of Rivers residents. “This step is for the good of our people,” he said, stressing that the transition aligns with the direction he believes the state needs to go. Fubara also disclosed that he had already received the green light from President Bola Tinubu to take up membership in the ruling APC. “Mr President has given his approval,” he stated, signalling that consultations at the federal level had reached a conclusion. His impending move did not come as a surprise to many political observers. Weeks of speculation had followed his multiple visits to the President, coupled with the earlier switch of 17 state lawmakers, which hinted at a larger realignment now taking shape in Rivers politics.

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Speculation Grows As Rivers Governor Fubara Faces Possible Exit From PDP Amid Lawmakers’ Defection To APC

Wale busari04 mins

Tension within Rivers State politics has intensified amid growing talks that Governor Siminalayi Fubara could be weighing a possible exit from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The speculation followed a dramatic shift in the State House of Assembly, where 17 lawmakers aligned with former governor Nyesom Wike announced their defection to the APC on Friday. With only three lawmakers still believed to be loyal to Fubara — and none of them returning to legislative duties since the lifting of the six-month emergency rule — uncertainty now hangs over the governor’s political direction and control of the Assembly. Reacting to the development, a PDP leader and former House of Representatives member, Ogbonna Nwuke, said the political realignments unfolding across the South-South region may eventually draw Fubara into the APC. He pointed to recent defections of PDP governors in Delta, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa states as signs of a wider collapse of the party’s influence in the region. Nwuke explained that instability within the PDP has made defections almost unavoidable. He noted that internal disputes and leadership battles have weakened the party to a level unseen in years. According to him, constitutional provisions on defection also acknowledge that deep divisions at the national level can justify such moves. He further described the PDP’s recent actions, including issuing what he termed an unprecedented “expulsion certificate,” as evidence that the party is in serious trouble. In his words, members are merely reacting to a party that has become deeply fractured. On whether Fubara’s defection is imminent, Nwuke said only the governor can make that decision public, but developments on ground suggest the option is being considered. He added that if Fubara eventually leaves the PDP, he would not be the first to take such a path. However, the Rivers State Government has dismissed the rumours as unfounded. A senior official at Government House, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the governor has given no indication that he plans to defect. The official also questioned the validity of the lawmakers’ defection claims, insisting they have not met the Supreme Court requirement of formally registering their new party membership at their wards. According to the official, until such evidence is produced, the alleged defection should not be taken seriously.

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Fubara Appoints Benibo Anabraba as New Secretary to Rivers State Government

Wale busari03 mins

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has named Hon. Benibo Anabraba as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG). The appointment was confirmed on Monday in a statement signed by Dr. Honour Sirawoo, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications. Anabraba is scheduled to be sworn in today, Monday, October 13, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. at the State Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt. “His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, Governor of Rivers State, has approved the appointment of Hon. Benibo Anabraba as Secretary to the Rivers State Government. He will be sworn in today, Monday, October 13, 2025, at 4:00 PM at the State Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt,” the statement read. The appointment comes after Fubara’s reinstatement as governor following a period of political and legal turmoil that led to his suspension under an emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025. The suspension also affected the deputy governor and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, citing ongoing political conflicts with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. During the emergency rule, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas served as Sole Administrator, suspending all commissioners, special advisers, and assistants appointed by Fubara, while dissolving boards and heads of parastatals. Since Ibas’s exit from office on September 18, the status of Fubara’s previous appointees remained uncertain. The Rivers State House of Assembly, in its first session after the lifting of the emergency rule, requested that the governor submit a new list of commissioner nominees for screening, along with the 2025 budget. Fubara’s return has sparked a series of administrative changes, with Anabraba’s appointment marking a key step in reassembling and strengthening his government team.  

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