Kenneth Okonkwo, a legal expert and prominent member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has argued that Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, should have his four-year term extended by six months, due to the emergency rule that temporarily removed him from office.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, September 22, Okonkwo explained that Fubara has the right to seek legal redress to ensure his tenure fully reflects the constitutional four-year period.
“This is not about opposing whoever declared the emergency. It is about the constitution,” Okonkwo said.
“Fubara was elected by the Rivers people to serve a full four years, and the Supreme Court has affirmed that a governor’s term is sacrosanct.”
He added, “His six months in office were illegally taken away. That also denies the Rivers people the full four years of service they are entitled to.
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“According to section 180, subsection 2 of the constitution, a governor’s term ends four years from the date of swearing in. Therefore, if Fubara leaves on May 29, 2027, he will have fallen short of his full term.”
Okonkwo argued that, in his view, the governor’s term should legally end on November 29, 2027, allowing him to serve the six months lost during the emergency period.
The six-month suspension followed a political standoff involving Governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, and Rivers Assembly Speaker Martin Amaewhule. During the period, retired naval officer Ibok-Ete Ibas was appointed to oversee the state administration.
President Bola Tinubu formally ended the emergency rule on Wednesday, September 17, allowing Fubara to return to office and resume governance.
Okonkwo maintained that any attempt to abbreviate Fubara’s tenure undermines constitutional provisions and the rights of Rivers State citizens to be served for the full duration they elected him.