According to sources, the move follows last weekend’s local government elections in which the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured 20 of the 23 council seats.

Fubara Returns With Stripped Powers, As Presidential Source Says Governor On His Own If Decides To Join APC Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara is set to resume office on September 18, bringing to an end the six-month state of emergency imposed by President Bola Tinubu in March. But his reinstatement will come with significant restrictions that curtail his authority in key areas of governance. Advertisements According to sources, the move follows last weekend’s local government elections in which the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured 20 of the 23 council seats. The outcome has tilted political control in Rivers towards the APC and is reportedly part of the conditions attached to Fubara’s return. Upon resumption, the governor will not have direct control over the local government councils or the Rivers State House of Assembly. Instead, Abuja will play a central role in overseeing sensitive appointments, project approvals, and major financial decisions—measures designed to forestall renewed clashes between Fubara, state lawmakers, and entrenched political interests.

The Presidency has made it clear that while Fubara is free to defect to the ruling APC, any such move must be his personal decision and cannot involve transferring his entire political structure. This clarification comes amid speculation that the governor considered using defection as a strategy to strengthen his hand against his political rival and former benefactor, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike.

The APC in Rivers has pledged to work with Fubara, citing their sweeping victory at the council polls as a platform for collaboration. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), however, has expressed worry, describing the new restrictions as troubling for Nigeria’s democracy and a potential threat to the party’s dominance in the state.

Meanwhile, ahead of the transition, President Tinubu met with Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), the Sole Administrator who has governed Rivers during the emergency period. The closed-door meeting, which lasted over two hours at the Presidential Villa, focused on security updates, transition planning, and ensuring a smooth handover once Fubara resumes office. Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff, has been in charge of both executive and legislative functions in the state since March, following violent political clashes and a legislative deadlock that prompted federal intervention.

Fubara’s return is expected to mark a new phase in Rivers politics, but with diminished powers and heightened federal oversight, his ability to govern effectively remains uncertain.