Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, on Friday, received a rousing welcome at the Port Harcourt International Airport, as thousands of jubilant supporters, traditional rulers, and political stakeholders trooped out to show solidarity.

The Governor, who arrived at exactly 12:15 p.m., was received by his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, alongside prominent leaders and representatives from all 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State.

Chants of solidarity songs, placards, and banners filled the atmosphere as the mammoth crowd hailed Fubara’s leadership, underscoring his grassroots popularity and continued support base.

Visibly moved by the warm reception, Governor Fubara told supporters:

“This outpouring of love reminds me of the responsibility I carry on behalf of every Rivers man, woman, and child. Together, we will continue to move our dear state forward.”

His return comes a day after he was expected back, following the lifting of the six-month State of Emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu on September 18.

Meanwhile, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has stated during an interview with Channels Television that he would not interfere in the Governor’s commissioner appointments and cabinet decisions.

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By Ima-owaji G. Shedrack

The Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area (ANOLGA), Hon. Lucky Promise Otuo, has declared support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid in 2027.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting, Hon. Otuo announced that the LGA, under his leadership, is championing the “Andoni for Tinubu 2027” movement, describing it as the people’s commitment to align with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He stated that the council, alongside the 10th legislative assembly, has resolved to back the President, stressing that Tinubu’s government is already making a positive impact on communities and that Andoni cannot afford to be left behind.

Hon. Otuo assured that his administration remains focused and will continue to prioritize education, healthcare, empowerment, infrastructure, security, and other critical areas while mobilizing grassroots support for the President’s re-election.

Earlier, the leader of the Nyesom Ezenwo Wike Associates in Andoni, Rt. Hon. Ikuiyi Owaji-Ibani, noted that the endorsement represents a collective step to move the local government forward. He urged stakeholders to remain steadfast, adding that further directives will be communicated in the coming days.

The stakeholders’ meeting was attended by community leaders, women’s organizations, youth groups, and political heavyweights such as Engr. Sampson Ngerebara, Rufus Godwin Esq., Hon. Sampson Egop, and many others.

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the end of the state of emergency in Rivers State, six months after it was imposed over a political crisis.

In a national address on Tuesday, Tinubu said the measure, declared on March 18, 2025, was necessary to halt a “total paralysis of governance” following the breakdown of relations between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the State House of Assembly.

The President confirmed that the emergency will expire at midnight today, allowing Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Nma Odu, Speaker Martins Amaewhule, and lawmakers to resume their duties on September 18.

Tinubu urged political leaders across the country to prioritize peace and cooperation, warning that democracy cannot thrive in an atmosphere of “violence, anarchy, and insecurity.”

Read Full Speech

STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY, BOLA AHMED TINUBU, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, ON THE CESSATION OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY IN RIVERS STATE

My Fellow countrymen and, in particular, the good people of Rivers State.

I am happy to address you today on the state of emergency declaration in Rivers State. You will recall that on 18th March, 2025, I proclaimed a state of emergency in the state. In my proclamation address, I highlighted the reasons for the declaration. The summary of it for context is that there was a total paralysis of governance in Rivers State, which had led to the Governor of Rivers State and the House of Assembly being unable to work together. Critical economic assets of the State, including oil pipelines, were being vandalised.

The State House of Assembly was crisis-ridden, such that members of the House were divided into two groups. Four members worked with the Governor, while 27 members opposed the Governor. The latter group supported the Speaker. As a result, the Governor could not present any Appropriation Bill to the House, to enable him to access funds to run Rivers State’s affairs.

That serious constitutional impasse brought governance in the State to a standstill. Even the Supreme Court, in one of its judgments in a series of cases filed by the Executive and the Legislative arms of Rivers State against each other, held that there was no government in Rivers State. My intervention and that of other well-meaning Nigerians to resolve the conflict proved abortive as both sides stuck rigidly to their positions to the detriment of peace and development of the State.

It therefore became painfully inevitable that to arrest the drift towards anarchy in Rivers State, I was obligated to invoke the powers conferred on me by Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, to proclaim the state of emergency. The Offices of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and elected members of the State House of Assembly were suspended for six months in the first instance. The six months expire today, September 17th, 2025.

I thank the National Assembly, which, after critically evaluating the justification for the proclamation, took steps immediately, as required by the Constitution, to approve the declaration in the interest of peace and order in Rivers State. I also thank our traditional rulers and the good people of Rivers State for their support from the date of the declaration of the state of emergency until now.

I am not unaware that there were a few voices of dissent against the proclamation, which led to their instituting over 40 cases in the courts in Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Yenagoa, to invalidate the declaration. That is the way it should be in a democratic setting. Some cases are still pending in the courts as of today. But what needs to be said is that the power to declare a state of emergency is an inbuilt constitutional tool to address situations of actual or threatened breakdown of public order and public safety, which require extraordinary measures to return the State to peace, order and security. Considered objectively, we had reached that situation of total breakdown of public order and public safety in Rivers State, as shown in the judgment of the Supreme Court on the disputes between the Executive and the Legislative arm of Rivers State. It would have been a colossal failure on my part as President not to have made that proclamation.

As a stakeholder in democratic governance, I believe that the need for a harmonious existence and relationship between the executive and the legislature is key to a successful government, whether at the state or national level. The people who voted us into power expect to reap the fruits of democracy. However, that expectation will remain unrealizable in an atmosphere of violence, anarchy, and insecurity borne by misguided political activism and Machiavellian manipulations among the stakeholders.

I am happy today that, from the intelligence available to me, there is a groundswell of a new spirit of understanding, a robust readiness, and potent enthusiasm on the part of all the stakeholders in Rivers State for an immediate return to democratic governance. This is undoubtedly a welcome development for me and a remarkable achievement for us. I therefore do not see why the state of emergency should exist a day longer than the six months I had pronounced at the beginning of it.

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.

I take this opportunity to remind the Governors and the Houses of Assembly of all the States of our country to continue to appreciate that it is only in an atmosphere of peace, order, and good government that we can deliver the dividends of democracy to our people. I implore all of you to let this realisation drive your actions at all times.

I thank you all.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR
President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
Federal Republic of Nigeria
State House, Abuja
September 17, 2025

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has clarified that its zoning arrangement will not prevent aspirants from other regions from contesting the party’s presidential ticket in 2027.

PDP’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, stated on Arise Television’s Morning Show that while zoning remains an important tool for equity, it cannot override the Nigerian Constitution, which grants every citizen the right to seek elective office.

“Even if we zone our presidential candidate to the South, it will not stop anybody from any part of the country from showing interest. We cannot do things that will contradict the Constitution of Nigeria, which is the grand norm,” Ajibade explained.non grata’

The clarification confirmed the position long championed by technocrat and politician Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, whose movement has consistently argued that zoning must not be used to exclude competent leaders.

Reacting to the PDP’s pronouncement, the South West Coordinator of the Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement, Alhaji Abass Olaniyi, described it as “a major victory for democracy and a vindication of Dr. Hashim’s ideological politics,” noting that the party had chosen fairness and inclusivity.

Olawepo-Hashim, a businessman-turned-politician, has gained recognition for his issue-based politics and efforts at bridging Nigeria’s North-South divide.

His rising influence, particularly in Osun State, has fueled speculation about a possible 2027 presidential bid.

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The political landscape of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal Constituency shifted on Saturday as Hon. Francis Barthlomew Chima, popularly known as OmoBarca, officially defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and declared his ambition to contest for the House of Representatives seat in 2027.

The declaration ceremony, held in Ajeromi-Ifelodun, attracted a large turnout of party faithful, community leaders, and supporters. It was also graced by prominent ADC figures, including the party’s National Secretary, Hon. Rauf Aregbesola, and former Lagos governorship candidate, Hon. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour. Their presence highlighted the significance of OmoBarca’s entry into the party as ADC intensifies efforts to expand its influence in Lagos ahead of the next general elections.

OmoBarca’s Vision for Ajeromi-Ifelodun

In his address, OmoBarca emphasized that his ambition is rooted in service, pledging to deliver people-centered representation if elected.

“I am stepping into this race with the sole aim of empowering my people in Ajeromi-Ifelodun,” he said. “I want a constituency where youths have access to jobs and skills, women are supported in business, and children enjoy better education. That is the kind of representation I intend to bring to Abuja.”

He further appealed to his political opponents to prioritize fair competition over post-election disputes, stressing that electoral mandates should be respected.

“I want to win this election on the strength of the people’s support. I don’t want any contestant to drag me to court if I emerge victorious. Let us respect the mandate of the electorate and focus on building our communities together,” he added.

ADC Leaders Back OmoBarca

Welcoming him to the party, Hon. Rauf Aregbesola described OmoBarca as a grassroots politician with a proven record of philanthropy and community service. He expressed confidence that OmoBarca’s candidacy would boost ADC’s chances in Ajeromi-Ifelodun, historically a battleground for dominant parties.

Hon. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour also commended OmoBarca’s consistency and passion for grassroots empowerment. He urged residents to rally behind the ADC candidate, stressing that credible representation at the National Assembly remains key to meaningful development.

Campaign Kickoff and Political Implications

The event also featured the inauguration of OmoBarca’s campaign team, with hundreds of supporters pledging loyalty to his candidacy. Party members hailed his defection as a “game-changer” with the potential to alter electoral dynamics in the constituency.

Political observers note that OmoBarca’s grassroots popularity, combined with national-level backing from the ADC, positions him as a formidable contender in one of Lagos State’s most politically vibrant constituencies.

As the 2027 general elections approach, his declaration sets the stage for a high-stakes contest that could reshape political alignments in Ajeromi-Ifelodun.

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