•National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Peter Ameh
The National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Peter Ameh, has criticised Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, over his decision to return as governor after his suspension.
Speaking on Channels Television today, Ameh said the governor’s decision and recent conduct amounted to a surrender that undermines democratic practice.
The camp of the suspended governor said it has begun the countdown to his expected return on September 18, 2025.
However, Ameh said he is already disappointed in Fubara’s decision, stating that the governor put his return to office above principle.
He said, “For me, I’m already disappointed in Fubara that he has shown, you know, that ehm, 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,” he said.
The CUPP official urged that Nigeria’s emerging democratic processes be protected and strengthened.
“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.”
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.
In Fubara’s place, Tinubu appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Sole Administrator, with a mandate to restore political stability.
