The National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Peter Ameh, has expressed disappointments over reports of a possible return to office by suspended governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.
Ameh, who spoke on Channels Television programme, Sunrise Daily on Monday, said the governor’s decision and recent conduct amounted to a surrender that undermines democratic practice.
He said, “For me, I’m already disappointed in Fubara that he has shown, you know, that, what he wants is to get back to office. I think he would have given it all up. It wouldn’t have been bad to fight for the future generation.”
Ameh accused state authorities of using the instruments of the state against the governor and said Fubara had “been beaten to surrender.”
“I think he was beaten to surrender, and that is not good for our democracy… our state instrumentality of the state was deployed against him, and he surrendered. Whether it’s a semi-democratic process, we must be able to nurture it to become a fully blown democratic system,” Ameh said.
He added that nurturing democracy is necessary so “young generation and future generations will be able to go freely to the polls.”
Recall that President Bola Tinubu had, on March 18, 2025, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending the governor, his deputy, and members of the House of Assembly. He cited the prolonged political crisis between Fubara and his predecessor and political benefactor, Nyesom Wike, as the reason.
Tinubu appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Sole Administrator, with a mandate to restore political stability.
Fubara’s return, which was announced by Wike, after he voted at last Saturday’s local government area election in Rivers State, followed a reconciliation meeting which was convened by Tinubu to settle the warring factions.