KEY POINTS

• Hundreds of Rivers women staged peaceful protests demanding reinstatement of suspended Governor Fubara, calling President Tinubu’s appointment of a sole administrator undemocratic.
• The demonstration followed prayer sessions and featured participants from all age groups, with organizers framing it as a defense of democratic values rather than partisan politics.
• The protest highlights ongoing political tensions in Nigeria’s oil-producing hub, with potential implications for regional stability and crude oil production.

Hundreds of women took to the streets of Port Harcourt on Friday in a massive protest calling for the reinstatement of suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy Ngozi Odu.

The demonstration, which stretched along the busy Aba Road before converging at the Government House, saw participants carrying placards with messages like “Bring back Fubara” and “Save our democracy” as they chanted solidarity songs.

The protesters, identifying themselves as mothers and wives, made a direct appeal to President Bola Tinubu to reverse what they termed an “undemocratic arrangement” in the oil-rich state. “We are peaceful people who don’t deserve this injustice,” one protester told Channels Television. “The governor has kept working despite these distractions – what’s happening now isn’t democracy.”

Channelstv reports that the political crisis in Rivers State escalated months ago when Fubara, his deputy, and state assembly members were suspended following protracted power struggles. President Tinubu subsequently appointed retired naval officer Ibok-Ete Ibas as sole administrator, a move critics have condemned as “unconstitutional military rule masked as state of emergency.”

Rivers women defend democratic values

Before marching through the city, the women had gathered at Isaac Boro Park for prayer sessions, underscoring the spiritual dimension of their campaign. Protest leaders emphasized their movement transcended partisan politics, framing it instead as a defense of democratic principles. “This isn’t just about Fubara,” a leader explained. “It’s about justice and Rivers State’s future.”

The demonstration remained peaceful throughout, with women of all ages participating. Many highlighted Fubara’s developmental projects as evidence he should remain in office. “He’s been delivering democracy dividends despite everything,” noted a participant, pointing to ongoing infrastructure work across the state.

The protest comes amid growing tensions in Nigeria’s oil heartland, with recent community actions already disrupting crude production. Analysts warn the political instability could further impact the nation’s oil output if not resolved promptly. Similar women-led protests have historically played crucial roles in Niger Delta politics, dating back to the 1929 Women’s War against colonial taxation policies.