Atiku Slams Tinubu, Says Lifting of Fubara’s Suspension “Not Worth Celebrating”

Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the lifting of the suspension placed on Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state House of Assembly.

Atiku argued that the action was unconstitutional from the outset and remains illegal, stressing that President Bola Tinubu had no authority to suspend democratically elected officials.

The suspension, imposed on March 18, followed a prolonged political standoff between Governor Fubara and lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Tinubu had declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspended the governor and legislators for six months, and appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) as sole administrator — a move that drew widespread criticism.

Though Tinubu formally lifted the emergency rule on Wednesday, allowing Fubara and others to resume office on Thursday, Atiku dismissed the decision as evidence of authoritarian tendencies in the current administration. He stated on his official X handle: “Lifting the suspension of Governor Simi Fubara is nothing to cheer about. The suspension was unconstitutional when it was done six months ago and is still illegal today. The Rivers shenanigans only signpost the dictatorship of the Tinubu administration.”