On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, women in Rivers State flooded the streets of Port Harcourt to protest the ongoing emergency rule in the state and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The demonstration, led by the Rivers Women Unite Prayer Group, voiced strong opposition to what they saw as a breakdown in the constitutional order of the state.
The women, dressed in red clothing, marched through major roads carrying placards with various messages, including “We have conscience,” “Bring Back Governor Fubara,” “We are gagged,” and “Rivers State economy suffers under Ibas.” These signs reflected their discontent and the demands for justice and constitutional restoration.
This protest is the latest in a series of growing protests triggered by the controversial political suspension of elected officials in Rivers. In a statement issued by leaders Nancy Nwankwo and Vivian Ige-Elenwo, the group accused Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, the administrator appointed after the emergency rule was declared, of worsening the crisis instead of fostering reconciliation. The group criticized Ibas for dismantling democratic institutions and pushing policies that benefited those who appointed him.
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The group also highlighted the negative impact of the emergency rule on the state’s economy, particularly the hardship it caused to women and children. They questioned why a relatively peaceful state like Rivers was targeted with such drastic measures, while other more unstable regions of Nigeria were left untouched.
The women’s demands included the immediate removal of the state police commissioner, the reinstatement of Governor Fubara, and the redeployment of security forces to areas experiencing more severe insecurity. The group also called on the international community to intervene and pressure the Nigerian government to restore democracy in Rivers.
This protest follows a similar demonstration on April 11, in which women expressed support for Fubara, whose suspension continues to deepen political divisions in the state. The suspension was part of a broader state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu in March 2025, which saw Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly removed from office. While the state judiciary was retained, Tinubu explained the emergency rule as necessary due to the political instability in the state, specifically criticizing Fubara for his failure to address the destruction of an oil facility shortly before the state of emergency was announced.
