Key points

• Fubara’s absence raised doubts during Assembly’s resumption.

• Supporters waited for hours in Port Harcourt with no result.

• Lawmakers pressed the governor to submit commissioners and budget.

When the Rivers State House of Assembly reconvened this week after six months of emergency rule, expectations were high.

For thousands of residents who gathered outside Government House in Port Harcourt, the return of Governor Siminalayi Fubara was supposed to mark a symbolic new chapter.

Instead, the day ended in frustration. From as early as 7 a.m., supporters from across the 23 local government areas of the state trooped to the capital, some wearing group colors, others carrying banners.

They danced, sang, and waited under the sun. By 7 p.m., the governor had still not appeared.

The crowd quietly dispersed, many voicing disappointment at waiting nearly 12 hours without a glimpse of the man they elected.

“I thought today would be the day democracy came back to life,” one supporter told The Nigerian Inquirer. “But how can we celebrate if our governor is not even here?”

Why was Fubara absent from the Assembly?

Fubara’s absence has left Rivers residents and political analysts guessing. The governor was suspended from office in March, a controversial decision critics labeled unconstitutional.

During that period, a retired naval officer, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, administered the state.

With President Bola Tinubu lifting the suspension on September 17, expectations grew that Fubara would immediately return to his office.

But sources suggest the governor may have stayed back in Abuja for high-level consultations before resuming.

Others argue he may be reluctant to return because his executive powers have been curtailed by the terms of the peace deal brokered between his camp and allies of his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.

Wike himself confirmed on Channels Television that he had spoken to Fubara, insisting the governor “is ready to return.”

Still, his absence has sparked rumors that he is weighing his political future, particularly with his authority weakened by recent power struggles.

Some insiders claim the empty Government House is a symbolic reminder of the deep divisions still lingering in the state, suggesting that Fubara may be seeking guarantees before fully stepping back into office.

Assembly presses ahead, demands action from governor

While the governor’s whereabouts remained uncertain, the Assembly resumed its legislative business.

Lawmakers urged Fubara to forward a list of commissioner nominees and present a new appropriation bill that reflects current realities in the state.

Speaker Martin Amaewhule said the House was committed to working with the governor in line with constitutional provisions, but also stressed the need for transparency regarding how funds were spent during the six months of emergency rule.

For many in Rivers State, the unanswered question remains: why did the governor stay away on a day so important to the state’s democratic recovery?

Until he appears at Government House, that uncertainty will continue to dominate political conversations across the state.