Supporters Wait in Vain as Fubara Shuns Rivers Govt House Gathering, Remains Incommunicado

Supporters of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Thursday left the gates of the Government House in Port Harcourt after waiting in vain to receive him. The crowd, mostly members of the now-disbanded Simplified Movement, had mobilised from all 23 local government areas under instructions from their leaders.

Those in attendance included sacked local government chairmen who were active in the recent political crisis, among them Amb. Chijoke Ihunwo, Ichemati Ezebunwo, and the former factional Speaker of the House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo. The supporters began arriving as early as 6 a.m., carrying drums, flutes, and other instruments, and were joined by dancing troupes in anticipation of the governor’s appearance.

By mid-morning, the gathering had taken over Nnamdi Azikiwe Road, blocking traffic and forcing drivers to divert to nearby streets, which were also partially obstructed. Despite hours of singing and dancing, there was no sign of the governor. Leaders of the group were seen making repeated phone calls, but no clear information came from the other end.

By 1 p.m., with no communication from the governor and their energy exhausted, the leaders quietly departed, prompting their followers to also disperse and board their hired vehicles. Observers noted that none of Wike’s loyalists, including incumbent local government chairmen and other known figures in his camp, were present at the gathering.

The development has fueled speculation that Governor Fubara is now fully aligned with his original political family and no longer prepared to challenge his predecessor and political benefactor, Chief Nyesom Wike. As of Thursday evening, the governor remained unreachable, leaving supporters and observers alike guessing about his position.