State governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gathered in Ibadan, Oyo State, for a crucial two-day meeting, focusing on several key issues impacting the party. The meeting comes on the heels of the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The political turbulence in Rivers State has continued to stir controversy, with former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, weighing in on the situation. Tompolo, speaking during his 54th birthday celebrations in Gbaramatu, assured the public that Fubara would return to his post, reinforcing his long-standing support for the Ijaw community.
Meanwhile, former House of Representatives member Dr. Farah Dagogo has taken legal action, dragging several key figures, including President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Etteh Ibas (retd), to court. This legal move follows the state of emergency declaration and Fubara’s suspension. A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has set May 12, 2025, for a hearing on the matter, with an order for substituted service granted to ensure the defendants are properly notified.
PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba confirmed that the governors’ meeting in Ibadan is of great significance for the party, as they will deliberate on a range of issues, including the South-South leadership crisis and the ongoing legal battle at the Supreme Court challenging the state of emergency in Rivers. The governors are also expected to address other party matters such as the leadership crisis within the National Working Committee (NWC) and the situation surrounding the National Secretary.
The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has also strongly condemned the recent destruction of billboards and portraits featuring the suspended Governor Fubara. The group expressed its outrage over the actions, calling them a deliberate attempt to provoke violence in the region. INC President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, called the destruction “barbaric” and suggested that it was part of a larger plan to justify the continuation of the state of emergency in the state.
Tompolo, speaking on the matter, emphasized that despite not having made a public statement earlier, he had always supported the Ijaw cause and would never betray his people. He further noted that the political conflict between Ijaw and Itsekiri communities regarding ward delineation was based on misrepresentation, adding that Gbaramatu, which is older than Itsekiri towns, deserved recognition.
