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Tag: Rivers

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 Since assuming office in 2023, the Governor has consistently withdrawn from the state’s consolidated revenue accounts without approval, in defiance of the Constitution and principles of separation of powers.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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Six Rivers State PDP Lawmakers Join APC, Leaving Party With Only Two House Seats

Wale busari02 mins

Six lawmakers from Rivers State in the House of Representatives have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The defecting members are Robinson Dekor, Solomon Bob, Cyril Hart, Victor Obuzor, Blessing Amadi, and Felix Nwaeke. Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, read their letters of defection on Tuesday, citing “divisions and unresolved political crisis in the PDP” as the reason for their move. The lawmakers said the internal conflicts in the PDP had made it difficult for them to pursue their political goals and pledged to support the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu. The defection reduces the PDP’s Rivers State caucus in the House from 12 to just two members. Last week, the party had already lost three representatives—Boniface Emerengwa, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, and Boma Goodhead—to the APC. The remaining PDP lawmakers from Rivers State are House Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda and Kelechi Nwogu.

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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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FULL LIST: Rivers PDP Lawmakers Who Have Not Defected to APC

Fola Badmus02 mins

Following the mass defection of 17 lawmakers from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly, the following ten PDP members remain loyal to the party: # Name of Legislator Constituency 1 Hon. Mrs. Emilia Lucky-Amadi Obio/Akpor 2 Hon. Justina Emeji Emohua 3 Hon. Ignatius Onwuka Etche I 4 Hon. Mrs. Barile Nwakor Khana I 5 Hon. Mrs. Ezekwe Nkemjika Ogba–Egbema/Ndoni II 6 Hon. Queen Owuma Tony-Williams Ahoada East I 7 Hon. Lemchi Nyeche Ikwerre 8 Hon. Sylvanus Nwankwo Omuma 9 Hon. Iderima John Dominic Abua/Odual 10 Hon. Mgbar Bernard Tai In a recent session, these 10 lawmakers reportedly selected party officers and administered new oaths of office for positions including Minority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader, Minority Whip, and Deputy Minority Whip — reaffirming their commitment to the PDP. Seventeen other members had defected to the APC earlier, prompting the House to adopt a resolution recognising the auditorium of the legislature quarters as the official chamber of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

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Tinubu Appoints Ibas, Dambazau, Chioma Ohakim And Ita Enang As Ambassadors

Wale busari02 mins

President Bola Tinubu has announced a new set of non-career ambassadorial nominees, including Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, former Chief of Naval Staff and immediate past sole administrator of Rivers State. The list also features Ita Enang, former senator; Chioma Ohakim, ex-First Lady of Imo State; and Abdulrahman Dambazau, former Minister of Interior and former Chief of Army Staff. These names were not part of the earlier batch of ambassadorial nominees submitted by the presidency. The nominations were formally conveyed to the Senate in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Thursday’s plenary session. In the letter, President Tinubu urged lawmakers to expedite the screening process to ensure that critical diplomatic positions are promptly filled. Following the presentation, Akpabio referred the list to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs with instructions to complete the screening and report back within one week. This announcement follows previous nominations by Tinubu, which included Reno Omokri, former presidential aide; Femi Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Aviation; and Mahmood Yakubu, immediate past chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for ambassadorial appointments.

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DSS Arrests Man in Rivers Over Social Media Call for Military Coup

Kamal Yalwa03 mins

The Department of State Services (DSS) says it has arrested a man in Oyigbo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, after tracing social media posts that urged the military to overthrow the federal government. Security operatives detained Innocent Chukwuma — who posts under the handle @TheAgroman on X — following a series of messages in which he called for a “coup in Nigeria” and urged citizens to back the military to “suspend the Nigerian government.”In one post quoted by investigators, Chukwuma wrote: “A coup in Nigeria is needed. Dispose of APC, suspend the Nigerian Government, and join the AES. That is all we need now.” He added in a separate message that “the military needs your support now! Only them can save this country.” The DSS confirmed the arrest and said the suspect is cooperating with investigators, according to sources. Further details about the arrest, including whether formal charges have been filed, were not immediately available. Authorities have in recent years monitored online calls for violence and unlawful change of government more closely, saying such messages can undermine national security and public order. The DSS did not release a formal statement on the case at the time of reporting. Local residents in Oyigbo told reporters that the arrest was carried out quietly and that security agents removed the suspect without incident. Neighbours described Chukwuma as active on social media but not previously known for violent behaviour. The matter may attract further scrutiny from law enforcement and prosecutors as investigators review the posts and the suspect’s contacts and motives. The DSS has in the past warned Nigerians against using social platforms to incite violence or promote undemocratic actions. We will update this story as more information becomes available from official sources.

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Fire Engulfs Rivers State Secretariat Podium Block, No Casualties Reported

Fire Engulfs Rivers State Secretariat Podium Block, No Casualties Reported

Wale busari03 mins

A fire engulfed part of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt on Friday, destroying some property but causing no casualties. The blaze reportedly started around 4pm on the ground floor of a tall building known as the Podium and spread to the office of the newly formed Rivers State Pension Board. Initial reports indicate that an electrical fault may have triggered the fire. Dr Honour Sirawoo, Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Information, confirmed the incident, saying firefighters acted swiftly to contain the inferno. “It was at the Podium Block of the State Secretariat, on the right side where the fire started. Fortunately, the State and Federal Fire Services responded promptly and managed to bring the situation under control,” Sirawoo said. Rivers State Head of Service, Dr Inyinge Brown, also confirmed that no lives were lost and praised the readiness of the recently rehabilitated State Fire Service. “We were informed of a fire at the right wing, ground floor of the Podium Block. The State Fire Service responded immediately, and we also engaged the Federal Fire Service, Renaissance partners, and the military, all of whom contributed to controlling the fire. Thanks to these combined efforts, the fire has been contained,” she said. Brown further commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s proactive steps in upgrading the fire service, noting that the situation could have been far worse without these improvements. She also urged civil servants to exercise caution, advising them to switch off and unplug electrical devices to prevent future incidents, particularly in heritage buildings.

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