The president of the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide, Theophilus Alaye, has said that Governor Siminalayi Fubara has the right, according to the Nigerian Constitution, to run for a second term in 2027.
He made it clear that only the people of Rivers State have the power to decide who should govern them.
Alaye was reacting to reports that Fubara might be asked to agree to a one-term deal as part of the conditions to end his suspension. He warned that the governor must not be forced by anyone, including former Governor Nyesom Wike, to give up his right to contest again.
He said, “The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, is a citizen of Nigeria and by the virtue of the Nigerian Constitution, we believe that the governor has the right to seek re-election.”
Although the one-term agreement has not been officially confirmed, Alaye said his group would not support such a deal if it exists. He added that if the governor has done well, then the people should be free to ask him to run again.
He said, “When we get to 2027, we shall know if that is part of the agreement. And if he has delivered the dividends of democracy for Rivers people, it is left for Rivers people to ask him to contest or not.”
Alaye strongly opposed any deal that limits Fubara’s political future and called it a violation of his rights.
He stated, “As the President of the Council, if a single-term is part of the agreement he has signed or they gave to him that he should not seek re-election in 2027, some of us are not going to be part of that because that is an infringement on his fundamental human rights, and it is against the Nigerian Constitution.”
He also said the Ijaw Youth Council does not support political oppression in any form. They have always been a group that stands up against injustice.
“Oppression is what we would never support. We have always been a group of marginalised persons and agitation has always been part of our lifestyle,” he said.
He continued, “So, standing behind the Rivers State governor to seek re-election come 2027 is not going to be a new thing to us because for us to sit down and allow some group of persons to infringe on his constitutional rights is what we, as a people, will not accept.”
Earlier in March 2025, President Bola Tinubu had declared a state of emergency in Rivers State due to a political crisis. This led to the suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the state assembly. By June, efforts to restore peace were made, and the parties involved agreed to move forward.
