Party signals willingness to work with governor — with conditions
The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has confirmed that suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara will return to office on September 18, following a six-month suspension declared by the presidency earlier this year.
Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, state APC Chairman Tony Okocha said the party is ready to work with Fubara once he’s reinstated — but warned that cooperation won’t stop them from holding him accountable.
“The governor who was suspended will return to office on September 18. The APC will work with him when he returns,” Okocha stated.
“But that won’t stop us from criticising bad policies. We won’t support anything vicious.”
A suspended administration
Fubara was suspended in March 2025 by President Bola Tinubu, who declared a state of emergency in Rivers following a deepening political crisis. The president also suspended the deputy governor, state House of Assembly, and installed a sole administrator in the interim.
Despite past tensions, the Rivers APC says it’s prepared to collaborate with Fubara’s government going forward — especially through local government chairmen aligned with the party.
“There are states where the governor and the assembly are in different parties,” Okocha added. “It’s not new. We’ll work with him, but on our terms.”
