Labour Party chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo has accused President Bola Tinubu of unlawfully depriving Governor Siminalayi Fubara of his full four-year constitutional tenure through the six-month state of emergency declared in Rivers State.
In a statement released on Saturday via his account, Okonkwo argued that Fubara’s administration should run until November 29, 2027, instead of the conventional May 29, 2027, to compensate for the period lost.
He urged Fubara to challenge the declaration in court, insisting that the Supreme Court had previously ruled that governors are entitled to serve four full years from their swearing-in date.
“Governor 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,” Okonkwo said.
According to him, allowing Fubara’s tenure to end on May 29, 2027, would shortchange Rivers people of six months of democratic governance.
He further warned that conducting a governorship election in the state before November 29, 2027, would be unconstitutional.
Okonkwo stressed that the precedent could undermine democracy across the country.
“This will send a conclusive message to every future president that his action cannot 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,” he declared.