Nollywood actor cum politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, has accused President Bola Tinubu of illegally depriving Governor Siminalayi Fubara of his full constitutional four-year tenure by the state of emergency declared in Rivers State.

Naijaonpoint reports that Okonkwo, in a statement released on Saturday via his 𝕏 account, insisted that Fubara’s administration should run until November 29, 2027, rather than the conventional May 29, 2027, to compensate for the period lost during the state of emergency.

The Labour Party chieftain urged Fubara to challenge the impact of the six-month state of emergency declared by President Tinubu on his tenure as the Governor of Rivers State.

“Gov Fubara was elected to serve for four years from the date of being sworn in.

“The illegal declaration of the state of emergency has reduced his term of office illegally by six months. Fubara has the right to challenge this illegal declaration of a state of emergency that took his six months away from him in court, with a view to recovering his six months,” he argued.

Citing Supreme Court precedent, Okonkwo noted that the Apex Court had established that governors must complete four full years from their swearing-in date.

According to his calculation, ending Fubara’s tenure on May 29, 2027, would shortchange Rivers people of six months of democratic governance.

“Supreme Court has held that the tenure of a Governor must complete four years from the day he was sworn in. This was how we got the staggered electoral system in our elections.

“If Fubara leaves office on May 29, 2027, he served for only three years and six months. He is entitled to four years from the day he was sworn in. His tenure should be due to end on the 29th day of November, 2027,” he argued.

Okonkwo also warned that conducting gubernatorial elections in Rivers State before November 29, 2027, would be unconstitutional, warning that the precedent being set could affect future democratic processes across the country.

“Any conduct of gubernatorial election before the expiration of his tenure on the 29th day of November 2027 should be deemed illegal and unconstitutional.”

“This will send a conclusive message to every future President that his action can not terminate or shorten the will of the people as expressed through elections.

Power to govern Rivers State belongs to Rivers people, not to any President or his unelected Sole Administrator.”

“Rivers State must recover all the months that the Tinubu’s cankerworm government has wasted for them,” he declared.