A group of June 12 protesters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State have called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara to focus on governance or resign from office.

The protesters, who identified themselves as members of the Take-It-Back Movement, an organisation associated with activist Omoyele Sowore, were reported to have staged the protest in the vicinity of the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt.

They shouted anti-government slogans, complaining of economic hardship, insecurity and the political crisis that has gripped the state for years.

The Take-It-Back Movement had declared June 12, Nigeria’s Democracy Day, as a day of national protest against insecurity and economic hardship.

In a video from the Port Harcourt protest, one of the protesters, whose profile name read “Certified Courtist,” addressed Fubara directly.

My personal address is to the Rivers State Government, and to Governor Fubara. “You people should help us pass our message to Governor Fubara that those of us that stood against oppression in this state are disappointed in him and we expected more from him as governor even though he said he’s no longer interested in 2027,” the protester said.

There is no happening in the Rivers.
The protester said Fubara has failed to meet the expectations of the public despite the support he got during the political crisis in the state.

He said: “Oga, you have one year to work for the Rivers people. “There is nothing happening in this state. We are worse than Abia State.

“Rivers people have over the years shown you love and solidarity. They stood by your side in the crisis, but you turned on them and protected your own interests. The Rivers people are tired of that.”

“They say you have a year to stay, and in that year, you work for them. Give back the love you have received from the Rivers people. “If you are not interested to work for Rivers people in this one year, please resign and leave.”

Later, the protesters chanted, “President Bola Tinubu must go.”

‘Wike Can’t Capture All Of Us’

“The protesters want a better Rivers State and they will not be intimidated,” the protester said.

We desire a better Rivers state. “Wike no fit get all of us. Nobody can be conquered. And as you can see, some of us cannot be conquered. “If you like, arrest or kill us, we don’t mind because we know everybody will die one day,” he added.

In another video, the protesters were heard chanting “revolution” and demanding the exit of President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and the ruling All Progressives Congress.

They also chanted “Insecurity, hunger, injustice must go.

Their action was ideological, not in support of any political faction, the protesters emphasized.

“We have to make clear that the issues are ideological, not personal, and we are not supporting any factions. They said: “Neither Governor Fubara, Mr Wike, Mr Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde.”

They blamed the protest on worsening insecurity, economic hardship, and poor public services.

We want to say that the insecurity level in this country is too much. The amount of suffering is unbearable. Children are off school. “Our hospitals don’t work. They promised us electricity but they can’t provide. Instead of electricity, the president installs solar at his home. “This is why we are saying President Tinubu must go,” the protesters stated.

Protesters blame politics of Rivers
The protesters also said the political developments in Rivers State had eaten into the gains Fubara had made in the past.

They say: We cannot go on pretending that everything is fine. And especially in Rivers State, the state has become Wike’s state. The only person who decides what happens in Rivers and it is so pathetic Gov Fubara has allowed Mr Wike do anything.

“Now, it is President Tinubu that will determine what happens in Rivers State. “The little progress made by Governor Fubara is gone because of unnecessary politicking.

Protesters were also heard singing, “Freedom comes by struggle.”

The post June 12 Protesters Tell Fubara to Deliver or Resign appeared first on TheNigerian.

A former governor of Plateau State, Senator Jonah Jang has described the conduct of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries as credible, transparent and democratic.

Jang was reported to have said the exercise was a sharp contrast to “results written in hotel rooms” by other political parties.

The elder statesman said this in a statement released on Friday through his Media Consultant, Comrade Clinton Garuba.

Jang praised the PDP for the successful holding of its primaries nationwide especially in Plateau State.

In Plateau, the Hon. Sunday Garba Biggs emerged as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections.

The former governor said the smooth conduct of the primaries was a manifestation of the party’s organisation, unity and commitment to internal democracy.

“There is no doubt about it, the difference in approach, planning and execution as seen during the primary elections of the PDP and that of the other political party was like day and night,” he said.

Jang said the PDP was open to all members and allowed their wishes to prevail through a transparent process. He alleged that some other parties resorted to imposition, impunity.

In those parties, “results were merely written in hotel rooms despite elections held on the field,” he said.

The former governor said the PDP had again proved its commitment to democratic principles and respect for the will of the people.

Jang Warns Faction Members
Jang also cautioned those posing as factional members of the PDP in Plateau State to desist from acts that could destabilise the party.

He said the PDP in Plateau was still united under the leadership of Chief Raymond Dabo.

The post Rivers 2027: Dumo Lulu-Briggs Secures NDC Governorship Ticket, Faces Chinda Showdown appeared first on TheNigerian.

Dr. Allen Idaso Ezekiel-Hart, an aspirant of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, for the Rivers State governorship primary election, has rejected the exercise.

The primary election was a shambolic charade, orchestrated by former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, to impose a preferred candidate, Ezekiel-Hart said.

The aspirant, who spoke to journalists in Abuja on Saturday, alleged that the primary produced three different governorship candidates for the ADC in Rivers State, warning that the development could throw the party into crisis ahead of the 2027 elections if the national leadership does not intervene.

“Presently, we have three governorship candidates in one party, and this is because of Amaechi’s high-handedness,” Ezekiel-Hart alleged.

He also alleged that while the party’s official timetable had fixed the governorship primary for May 23, aspirants were suddenly told Friday night that the exercise had been brought forward.

“While I was mobilising supporters in the 23 local government areas ahead of the scheduled poll, a fellow aspirant, Farah Dagogo, told me that a parallel exercise had earlier been conducted without my knowledge today (Thursday).

Ezekiel-Hart said only five aspirants believed to be loyal to Amaechi were invited by the state party chairman, the Chief Chukwudi Dimkpa, apart from himself and Dagogo.

He called the process a “kangaroo arrangement” allegedly designed to pave way for Gabriel P. Thompson who he said has been long installed as Amaechi’s preferred candidate.

He alleged that three aspirants were persuaded to withdraw for Thompson in a consensus arrangement camouflaged as a consensus arrangement despite the party’s public claim that there would be no consensus candidate.

He also disclosed that Dagogo had later come to him with the suggestion that they should team up to fight what he described as “Amaechi’s camp”. However, he said, Dagogo also allegedly asked him to publicly congratulate him as the winner.

He told me to go on air and congratulate him that we are from Atiku Abubakar’s political family and should unite. I told him to stop rubbishing Atiku’s name Atiku will not be in this nonsense,” said Ezekiel-Hart.

He alleged that Dagogo had even offered him political bribe, including possible appointment as Secretary to the State Government, if he endorsed his self-declared victory.

Ezekiel-Hart said he rejected the offer and later declared himself winner after Dagogo had earlier publicly declared himself winner.

‘As it is, Farah declared himself winner, Thompson was declared winner by the state exco, I also declared myself winner. Three winners in a primary that never happened. “That cannot be,” he said.

Ezekiel-Hart alleged that the Rivers ADC leadership had been systematically sidelining him, saying he was the only aspirant that notified the party in writing of his intention to contest and with documented acknowledgement from the party secretariat.

The former governor also accused Amaechi of trying to replicate what he termed a long-standing culture of political imposition.

“How can someone who is demanding transparent presidential primaries in the country turn around and impose a governorship candidate in Rivers?” he asked.

Ezekiel-Hart further alleged that the former minister had not explained his political role in the 2015 presidential transition that ousted former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“He owes the South-South apology for what he did to Jonathan and mortgaging the political future of this region.”

Ezekiel-Hart urged the ADC National Working Committee to immediately cancel the controversial exercise and conduct a fresh primary or adopt a consensus arrangement in line with the electoral timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The most pragmatic approach at this point is for the NWC to call for a rescheduled primary or to push through a lawful consensus option. He suggested, “Time is running out.

Similarly, Ezekiel-Hart cautioned Dagogo against the continuous mention of Atiku’s name to strengthen his case.

He should stop dragging Atiku’s name in the mud in Rivers. “Let me tell you, Atiku is our father, nobody should be saying that he is imposing a candidate here.”

“We will exhaust every legal channel within the party,” he said. “We will pursue all grievances strictly within the framework of the party constitution. “I am not going to rock the boat unnecessarily but the party has to recognise that I won the primaries.”410

The post Rivers ADC Guber Primary: Aspirant Accuses Amaechi of Imposition, Claims Three Winners Emerged appeared first on TheNigerian.

The APC announced the appointment of Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara, and other serving and former governors as coordinators and collation officers for different states in its presidential primary election.

The party has also adopted a direct primary mode that will allow all registered party members to participate in the exercise nationwide.

The APC said in a document issued by its National Secretariat in Abuja that the direct primary would take place on May 24, 2026 in all the 8,809 wards in the country.

Other APC governors were also appointed as coordinators for their respective states.

“The direct primary in each of the 36 states and the FCT shall be organised and conducted by the State Coordinator and Collation Officer, who shall also collate the results of all the local governments in the state and present the same to the Presidential Primary Election Committee in Abuja, FCT on 24 May, 2026.

“The provisions of the ‘Procedure for the Conduct of Direct and Consensus Mode of Primaries’ earlier issued and forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Committee under cover of a letter dated 15 May 2026 with reference No: APC/NHDQ/INEC/PRYS-DOCS/01-05/26 shall also apply mutatis mutandis,” the document signed by APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, partly read.

The post 2027: APC Appoints Fubara, Other Governors as State Coordinators for Presidential Primaries appeared first on TheNigerian.

An international media personality, Donu Kogbara, has said it is insensitive for the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to bring another Ikwerre man as governorship candidate in Rivers state.

Kogbara said this Thursday while responding to questions on ‘Prime Time’ programme on Arise Television.

She spoke on Wike’s preferred candidate for the governorship election in the state.

It was reported that Wike’s ally, Ogundu Kingsley Chinda, emerged on Thursday as the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate for the 2027 general elections.

Kingsley Chinda is a good man but I think he should have turned down the offer to be APC governorship candidate from Wike because it is wrong,” Kogbara said sharing her opinion.

“Chinda is from more or less the same village with Wike. We have had three or four governors who are Ikwerre. Chinda is Ikwerre too.

“It is an insult for Wike to bring another Ikwerre candidate. There has never been an Ogoni governor, deputy governor, speaker or chief judge in Rivers State.

“I’m going to FIGHT Chinda over this governorship thing. I like him, it’s not personal, but for ethical reasons, Chinda should have turned down this role. He knows it’s not his turn. His ethnic group’s time.”

The post Rivers: Very Insensitive for Wike to Bring Another Ikwerre Man as Guber Candidate – Kogbara appeared first on TheNigerian.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Rivers State has scheduled Saturday, June 20, 2026, for the conduct of a bye-election to fill the vacant Rivers South-East Senatorial seat.

The election is to fill the vacancy created in the Senatorial District following the demise of Senator Barry Mpigi.

The Commission said voting in the seven local government areas in the senatorial district would start at 8:00 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m.

The election will hold in 88 Registration Areas and 1,629 Polling Units in Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro, Eleme, Tai, Oyigbo, Khana and Gokana local government areas.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem.

He assured residents, political parties and other stakeholders that the Commission is committed to a peaceful, transparent and credible bye-election.

The post INEC Fixes June 20 for Rivers South-East By-election to Replace Senator Mpigi appeared first on TheNigerian.

Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu, said Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has finally shown that politics was never meant for him.

Odinkalu was said to have made the comment in a post on his 𝕏 handle on Thursday after Fubara withdrew from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary.

He said that Fubara was a civil servant in 2022 and should have resigned from service within the time frame stipulated by the Electoral Act before contesting for office.

Odinkalu said Fubara remained a civil servant way beyond the point aspirants were supposed to resign under the Electoral Act. He added that the governor is now free to return to the civil service where his future should be bright.

He said: “Glad @SimFubaraKSC has finally cleared the air & taken a stand that politics is not his thing. Never was.

“#Fubara was a #civilservant in 2022 and he was still working as civil servant long after aspirants should have resigned from office under the #ElectoralAct. “He is now free to go back to the #civilservice where his future should be bright.”

Meanwhile, Fubara said that his decision was after extensive consultation with family members, friends and political associates. He added that he would give his full support to whoever emerges as the governorship candidate of the party.

“After much soul-searching and wide consultations with my family, friends and associates, I have taken the hard but necessary decision to withdraw from the APC gubernatorial primaries. “I do that with a full heart and a firm commitment to support whoever emerges as the candidate of our great party,” he said.

The post ‘Politics Is Not For Fubara, Now Free To Return To Civil Service’ – Chidi Odinkalu appeared first on TheNigerian.

Blessing Fubara, a politician in Rivers State, said he would run for the governorship in 2027 on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Fubara was said to have picked the nomination and expression of interest forms to contest for the 2027 governorship election in Rivers State.

Fubara shares the same surname as the incumbent Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and they both come from the Opobo/Nkoro local government area of Rivers, it could not be ascertained if they are directly related.

The Chairman of the NDC in Rivers State, Success Jack, who confirmed that Blessing Fubara is one of its governorship aspirants, could also not confirm if he is related to the incumbent Governor.

“Yes, he (Blessing Fubara Snr) collected the expression of interest form yesterday in Abuja and we are ready and still preparing to win not only governorship election but all the elections in Rivers State in the 2027 general election,” he said.

Blessing Fubara, who defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the NDC about two weeks ago, was recalled.

Speaking after he was received by the National Leader of NDC, Senator Seriake Dickson and other stakeholders of the party in Abuja following his defection, Fubara described the NDC as a moving train, adding that his decision to join the party is in the interest of the people of Rivers State.

He said the soul of Rivers State is at stake and the people must take back their state, stressing that Rivers will be ‘OK’ after the 2027 polls.

The post Blessing Fubara Officially Enters Rivers Governorship Race, Picks NDC Form appeared first on TheNigerian.

The anchor of Arise Television’s Morning Show, Rufai Oseni, has said that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has become the dominant force in Rivers State politics.

The comment comes on the heels of Governor Siminalayi Fubara withdrawing his participation from the All Progressives Congress, APC, gubernatorial primary.

Speaking during the TV’s programme on Thursday, Oseni described the political situation in the state as a “shame on democracy,” alleging that one person now influences two political parties.

He said the development had revealed the reasons behind Wike’s choice of Fubara as governor in 2023.

Oseni further challenged Fubara’s defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC, saying it did not give the political consolidation he may have been expecting.

The broadcaster said Wike now seems able to hold political structures across party lines, saying that the former Rivers governor has emerged as the kingmaker in deciding who becomes the next governor of the state.

But Oseni wondered whether such political dominance could be sustained, saying too much power for one person could put democratic development at risk.

Oseni said: “What do I say as regards Rivers? That’s a shame on our democracy. Rivers is now two-factor-authentication.

“A man has the collabo right, two political parties joined together, and the man feels like he’s God today.

“Anyway, for Fubara, you have now seen the reason why he chose Fubara.

“If you expect me to come and explain it to you, I will not do that because the Yorubas have been saying that it is with parables that they beat their ‘gidigbo’ drum. It is the sensible ones that will understand it, and it has shown what Fubara is all about.

“You quickly went to join the APC, you couldn’t get consolidation there. So look at you now. Now they have brought Chinda but let us also see. Another battle royal between Wike and Chinda?

“Will Wike be able to hold Chinda’s hands and keep it well? Because what we are seeing more and more is that Wike has taken over Rivers politics, whether you like it or not.

“He is becoming the de facto god of Rivers politics, or if not the…I don’t have to use the word de facto, he has become the god, if he can control two political parties and everybody is moving with him.

“Maybe. Whatever happens, Wike will be the one who will produce the next governor. But how long will this hegemonic position be sustainable? That’s going to be the real test of our democracy.” We can keep fooling ourselves and think it’s a good thing, but it’s not a good thing for our democracy that one man takes it all, because we have seen what happened in Lagos.

“This could lead to Lagos becoming like Rivers if we allow this to continue, and that’s why we must tell ourselves the hard truth at every point in time.”

The post Wike, Fubara is now the god of Rivers politics – Rufai Oseni appeared first on TheNigerian.

Lagos socialite Okechukwu Chibuike Pascal, also known as Chiefpriest, has mocked Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, following his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary.

It was said that Fubara announced his withdrawal in a statement personally signed by him on Wednesday night and captioned, “My Decision to Withdraw from the Rivers State Gubernatorial Primaries.”

The Governor said his decision followed long conversations with family members, friends and political allies, adding that he would completely back whoever emerges as the party’s governorship candidate.

Fubara indicated that his choice was inspired by the necessity to choose peace, stability and unity in Rivers State above personal ambition.

‎“Leadership is ultimately about sacrifice. There comes a moment when personal ambition must surrender to the larger good of the community. Rivers State is bigger than any individual, and at this critical period, the peace, stability, and unity of our dear state must take precedence over every personal interest,” he said.

Reacting to Fubara’s withdrawal, Chief Priest, in a post via his Instagram profile, stated Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, prevailed in the rift between him and the Governor.

The nightlife promoter emphasized there was an agreement and both sides must keep to it.

He wrote, “Wike won, agreement is agreement.”

Recall that claims made rounds online that Fubara had, during the peace accord with Wike, agreed to the condition that he would not be contesting for a second term in office if reinstated as Governor.

The post “Wike Won” — Chief Priest Reacts To Fubara’s Withdrawal From APC Governorship Primary appeared first on TheNigerian.