With just 11 days left before his scheduled return to the Rivers State Government House on September 18, Governor Siminalayi Fubara is facing growing concerns about his political strength and relevance. Once seen as a rising figure in Rivers politics, indications now suggest that his support base has thinned significantly, with some of his close allies warning that he may return as a “lame duck” governor.
Governor Fubara’s political troubles escalated dramatically earlier this year when President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, following heightened political unrest and an alleged attack on vital oil installations by suspected militants. Alongside the emergency rule, the governor was suspended from office, effectively halting his administration and leaving the state under federal oversight for nearly six months.
The enforced absence from office and silence in the public sphere have dealt a heavy blow to Fubara’s influence. Political observers argue that the vacuum created by his suspension provided room for his rivals to consolidate power, particularly within the state’s political structures. For many residents and stakeholders, the prolonged absence of an elected governor has also deepened uncertainties about governance and leadership direction in Rivers State.
A major turning point in Fubara’s political journey came with his widely publicized reconciliation with his estranged political godfather, Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Their reconciliation, while welcomed by some, also had an unintended consequence: the collapse of their previously vibrant support groups. Fubara’s “Simplified Family” movement and Wike’s “Wikematics” camp, which once defined Rivers’ political landscape, have both been dissolved, leaving their followers politically homeless and weakening the grassroots mobilization machinery of both leaders.
Party insiders and analysts suggest that the reconciliation was less about healing political wounds and more about preventing further instability in the state. However, this fragile peace has done little to reassure Fubara’s loyalists, many of whom now fear that the governor’s return will not translate into real authority. Without strong support networks or independent political structures, critics argue, Fubara may struggle to assert himself in a political space still heavily dominated by Wike’s influence.
Meanwhile, citizens of Rivers State are left in suspense as the countdown to September 18 continues. For some, Fubara’s return offers a chance for the state to restore constitutional governance and stability. For others, it is merely a symbolic step, as the embattled governor may find it difficult to reclaim control over the political machinery that once secured his seat.
As Rivers State awaits the governor’s comeback, the lingering question is whether Fubara will emerge as a leader capable of rebuilding his authority or whether his return will confirm fears of a weakened governor with little power to shape the state’s political and economic future.
