A wave of protests swept through the streets of Port Harcourt on Tuesday as large numbers of residents in the Treasure Base of the Nation (Rivers) rallied for the immediate return of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Dressed in black and chanting solidarity songs, the demonstrators—comprising youths, women, and elders—marched through major roads in the Old Township area, calling on President Bola Tinubu to end the emergency rule in the state and reinstate not only Governor Fubara but also his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly.
The rally follows a string of demonstrations that have gripped the state since the federal government announced the emergency declaration and named Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) as interim administrator.
Protesters carried placards with messages such as “Tinubu, bring back our Governor,” “Fubara is our choice,” “Leave Rivers alone,” and “Wike, nobody disturbed your eight years in office.” The slogans reflected deep frustration with the political crisis that has unsettled the state in recent weeks.
The demonstrators vowed to throw their support behind Tinubu in the 2027 elections—should he respond to their call by restoring the suspended state officials.
The protest is adding another layer to the unfolding political crisis in Rivers, where both supporters and opponents of the suspended governor have taken to the streets in recent weeks, amplifying the state’s growing political division.
