By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The former spokesperson for the Campaign Organization of Peter Obi, the Labour Party, LP, Presidential 3candidate during the 2023 general election, Kenneth Okonkwo, has stated that the tenure of Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara should be ending on November 29, 2027, instead of May 29,
He urged the returnee Governor to challenge his illegal and unconstitutional removal from office for a period of six months by President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement on his official site on Saturday, September 20, 2025, the Nollywood star maintained that the Supreme Court had, in previous judicial pronouncements, affirmed that Governors are elected for a period of four years.
According to Okonkwo, having been short-changed through the President’s illegal emergency rule declaration on March 18, 2025, Governor Fubara who made a return to office on Thursday, after a six-month suspension, should insist on having his complete constitutionally guaranteed four-year mandate.
He, therefore, urged Fubara to approach the Supreme Court to seek a Judicial affirmation to hand over on November 29, instead of May 29, 2027.
“Governor Fubara was elected to serve for four years from the date of being sworn in .
“The illegal declaration of the state of emergency has reduced his term in office by six months
“This will send a conclusive message to every future President that his actions cannot terminate or shorten the will of the people as expressed through elections.
“The power to Governor of Rivers State belongs to Rivers people, not any President, or his unelected Sole Administrator” Okonkwo stated.
Okonkwo’s statement is coming on the heels of Governor Fubara’s declaration that he deliberately refused to mount legal proceedings against his suspension through emergency rule declaration.
In a statewide broadcast on his resumption in office on Friday September 19, Governor Fubara explained that he chose not to challenge his suspension just to allow peace to reign in the State.
Ironically, and curiously too, the Supreme Court of Nigeria refused to list for hearing and determination , an application filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors Forum challenging the constitutionality of the suspension of the Governor by President Tinubu after proclaiming a State of Emergency.
Not a few observers,both nationally and internationally ,have accused the country’s Apex Court of, alleged, high-level complicity in the orchestrated plot to undermine democratic principles in Rivers State, and Nigeria as a whole.
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