The Rivers State Government, on Wednesday, dismissed viral reports that it summoned the suspended governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Mrs. Ngozi Nma Odu. 

It was widely reported that the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, (Rtd) summoned the duo to appear before him.

However, in a statement made available to journalists, signed by Sir Dede Sampson Friday, Permanent Secretary, Special Services Bureau, Office of the Secretary to the Rivers State  Government, he issued stern warning against those spreading fake news. 

He said in the statement that, “it has become aware of fraudulent announcements circulating on social media, falsely attributed to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). These malicious fabrications are designed to mislead the public, create panic, and disrupt the peace in Rivers State.  

“One such fake announcement falsely claims that His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, the suspended Governor of Rivers State, and the Deputy Governor, Prof. Mrs. Ngozi Nma Odu, were summoned to a meeting at the Government House on Friday, April 18, 2025.  

“The Rivers State Government categorically states that this announcement is FAKE and did not originate from any official source. The public is urged to disregard this and any similar misinformation, as they are the work of troublemakers seeking to destabilize the state.  

“Official communications from the Rivers State Government are disseminated ONLY through verified channels.”

The embattled National Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has carpeted the resolution of the party’s Governors’ Forum, via which they re-echoed their support for SKE Ude-Okoye as the party's scribe.

NATIONAL POST recalls that governors, during their meeting in Enugu Oyo State, among other things, declared Okoye as the authentic National Secretary of the party.

However, reacting, Anyanwu said he was elected at PDP National Convention for four years and could, therefore, not be removed by a handful of party men.

According to him, the decision of the PDP Governors’ Forum to supplant an elected national officer of the party is an affront on the nation’s laws and the PDP’s constitution that cannot stand.

Senator Anyanwu said: “I remain the National Secretary of the PDP; this is not the first time that some people are trying a shortcut that falls short of the PDP constitution and contradicts the orders of the court.

“It seems that they deliberately want to kill the PDP today and tomorrow, blame Wike for it. 

“At the governors’ meeting, the party’s National Legal told them that such a decision on the PDP National Secretary’s position is wrong, that the Supreme Court had spoken on the matter.”

The embattled party scribe further emphasized that as his lawyer has submitted the Supreme Court judgment to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, “every right thinking person knows that there cannot be any valid correspondence between INEC and PDP without his signature and that of the party’s national chairman – an issue that can put the party’s candidate in great jeopardy if someone else illegitimately signs as PDP National Secretary.”

Also during the meeting, the governors said they stand with the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Sim Fubara.

They also ruled out any form of coalition between the party and others. 

“We restate our commitment to stand with him (Fubara) until the end amid the challenges posed by the declaration of a state of emergency in his state,” they said. 

Addressing the worsening security situation in the country, particularly in Borno, Katsina and Edo states, the PDP governors expressed alarm, stating, “The Forum finds alarming the worsening security situation in the country.”

The PDP governors called for a “review and reorientation of priorities and strategies", emphasising the need for a bottom-up approach to tackle security breaches effectively.

There is growing tension in Rivers State following the summoning of suspended governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy by the Sole Administrator of the state, Vice Admiral (Rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas.

NATIONAL POST reports that the summon, which was made public on Tuesday, was signed by Prof. Ibibia Lucky Worika, Secretary to the State Government. 

“The Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, CFR, has formally summoned the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, and his Deputy, Dr. Ngozi Ordu, to appear before him for an inquiry into the appointments made under their administration over the past two years.

“Sir Fubara is directed to present all relevant documents and records pertaining to appointments, including justifications and procedures followed during his tenure. The session will also serve as an opportunity for the suspended Governor to provide a clear and detailed explanation as to why he believes he should be reinstated to office.

“Both parties are expected to appear in person as follows:

“Date: Friday, 18th April, 2025

“Time: 10:00am Prompt

“Venue: Conference Room, Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt

“Attendance is mandatory. This process forms part of the Sole Administrator’s ongoing efforts to restore transparency and accountability and lasting peace in the governance of Rivers State.”

The development, which comes amid the Administrator’s questionable appointments, is raising eyebrows across the country. 

Keen observers of the developments in the state are of the opinion that Ibas' summoning of Fubara is humiliating. 

Meanwhile, this is coming the same day the House of Representatives announced the takeover of the functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly. 

A committee to oversee legislative activities of the Rivers Assembly was inaugurated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas on Tuesday. 

Abbas, while inaugurating the ad-hoc committee on Tuesday, urged the members to legislate on behalf of the suspended Rivers State House of Assembly in line with the provisions of the Constitution.

The committee members are lawmakers drawn from each geopolitical zone of the country.

The Speaker in his address to the ad-hoc members urged them to be non-partisan in discharging their statutory legislative responsibilities, stressing that they should offer quality legislative activities for good governance and in the interest of the oil-rich state.

He said, “Your task is to oversee Rivers State following Mr. President’s emergency proclamation. You must not be partisan or biased."

Present at the event were the House Leader who doubles as the Chairman of the Committee, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, Ali Isah, PDP, Gombe, Deputy Chairman, Idris Wase (North Central), Aliyu Muktar (North East), Sada Soli (North West), Iduma Igariwey (South East), and Shehu Rijau.

Other members include Wole Oke, Akarachi Amadi, Patrick Umoh, and Isa Anka, among others.

Members of the ad hoc committee were also drawn from different political parties in the House of Representatives.