Rivers: Atiku tackles Tinubu over Fubara’s suspension, reinstatement

Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has slammed President Bola Tinubu over the suspension and recent reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of River State and members of the State House of Assembly.

On March 18, 2025, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, during which Fubara, the deputy governor, and all members of the state House of Assembly were suspended.

President Tinubu also appointed a Sole Administrator, Ibok Ibas, to preside over the state during the duration of the suspension.

But on Wednesday, Tinubu announced the reinstatement of the governor, saying: “It therefore gives me great pleasure to declare that the emergency in Rivers State of Nigeria shall end with effect from midnight today.

“The Governor, His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara, the deputy governor, Her Excellency Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the speaker, Martins Amaewhule, will resume work in their offices from 18 September 2025.”

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Reacting in a statement posted Thursday on his official X account, Atiku insisted that there was nothing to celebrate in the lifting of the suspension, as the action itself had no basis in law.

“Lifting the suspension of Governor Simi Fubara is nothing to cheer about. The suspension of the Rivers State Governor and the State House of Assembly was unconstitutional when it was done six months ago and is still illegal today,” Atiku wrote.

He further stressed that President Tinubu lacked the constitutional authority to suspend a democratically elected governor and state lawmakers, declaring the episode a dangerous sign of creeping dictatorship.

“President Tinubu had no power to suspend a democratically elected governor and state lawmakers. The Rivers shenanigans only signpost the dictatorship of the Tinubu administration,” the former Vice President added.

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