The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas (retd.), of systematically dismantling governance structures established by the suspended Governor, Siminialayi Fubara.
The party also took aim at former Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, describing him as a “serial betrayer” and alleging that he is being used by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to spread misinformation against Fubara and his administration.
Rivers PDP Chairman, Nname Ewor, made these claims while responding to allegations made by Nwaeke against Fubara, the PDP, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Speaking in Port Harcourt, Ewor condemned the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers, arguing that it lacked justification.
He stated that the state is neither at war nor facing a natural disaster to warrant such a drastic measure.
He further questioned whether the actions taken by the Sole Administrator would restore peace or escalate the crisis.
Ewor also dismissed specific allegations made by Nwaeke, including claims that Fubara was involved in the bombing of the House of Assembly and had pledged support for Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, in the 2027 presidential election.
He said, “Nwaeke, highly compromised and a serial betrayer, became a ready tool in the hands of the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, to carry out a campaign of calumny, libel, defamation, and distortion of facts against our Governor and his team, the chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Bala Mohammed, Bauchi State Governor, Ijaw nation, militants, etc.”
Meanwhile, retired Justice Miakpor Emiaso, a former President of the Delta State Customary Court, criticised President Tinubu’s decision to release Rivers State’s allocation to the Sole Administrator.
He said, “It is unlawful, it is unconstitutional, you cannot release funds to a sole administrator, and I mean it is very wrong.”
Justice Emiaso further argued that the constitution does not recognize the appointment of a sole administrator to govern a state, describing it as an illegal and undemocratic move.
He said, “There is no arrangement in the constitution that permits any authority in this country to suspend an elected officer, least of all a governor, so the president suspending the governor of Rivers State is a very major threat to our democratic system.”
On Nwaeke’s actions, he added, “By my own assessment, Nwaeke is neither under any spell nor under duress. He is a career civil servant in the civil service of Rivers State, whose career spanned over 40 years. He rose to the apex of the civil service. Therefore, he knows exactly what he has done.”
The PDP insisted that Nwaeke’s claims against Fubara were fabricated to discredit the governor and create a rift between him and President Tinubu. The party also refuted allegations linking Fubara to the House of Assembly bombing, citing police investigations that led to multiple arrests and court proceedings, none of which implicated the governor.
“Accusing the Governor, Edison, and Chijioke Ihunwo of being responsible for the bombing is neither here nor there,” Ewor concluded.
On claims that Fubara had pledged allegiance to Bala Mohammed’s potential 2027 presidential bid, the party dismissed them as baseless.
He said, “His claim that Fubara promised to work for Sen. Bala Mohammed in the 2027 general election is also a lie. As we know, Bala is the Governor of Bauchi State and chairman of the PDP Governors Forum. Fubara doubles as his deputy. Both of them are at liberty to meet anywhere, anytime to discuss matters of PDP.”
The PDP maintained that the narrative was a deliberate attempt to sow discord between Fubara and President Tinubu, insisting that it would not succeed.
