The immediate past Rivers State sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok‑Ete Ibas (retd.), has pushed back against the State House of Assembly’s plan to probe expenditures under his leadership during the six‑month emergency rule.

The Assembly adopted the resolution in its first plenary session following the end of the emergency regime.

Under the emergency rule, declared by President Bola Tinubu in March 2025, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the elected Assembly were suspended.

Ibas administered the state from March through mid‑September. He handed back power on 17 September.

During that time, Rivers State received approximately ₦254.37 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

Breakdown shows allocations of ₦44.66bn in March; ₦44.42bn in April; ₦42.80bn in May; ₦42.30bn in June; ₦38.42bn in July; and ₦41.76bn in August.

The largest share of the allocations, over 50%, came via oil derivation, underscoring the state’s dependence on oil‑linked revenues.

Civil society organisations have expressed concern over the sizeable inflows, pointing out that several key capital projects remain stalled, including the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex.

The Chairman of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Rivers, Enefaa Georgewill, has described the financial processes as opaque and has called for the establishment of a panel of inquiry to track both federal allocations and internally generated revenues under Ibas.

Responding through his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Hector Igbikiowubu, Ibas argued that the Assembly lacks the authority to probe him as administrator because he was appointed by the President, not the Assembly.

He also suggested that probing his tenure would amount to probing the President and National Assembly themselves.

He called the House’s probe resolution “commentary” and said any serious attempt to investigate his administration’s spending would be a “fool’s errand.”

Meanwhile, Governor Fubara, now reinstated following the end of the emergency rule, has appealed for continued unity and expressed gratitude to citizens for their prayers.

In his first public appearance since resuming official duties, he emphasized that peace and development require collective support and urged Rivers people to remain hopeful.

A leading member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has called on Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to immediately dismiss all officials appointed under Vice Admiral Ibok‑Ėtte Ibas, the former Sole Administrator.

Eze, who once served as the National Publicity Secretary of the now‑defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP), made the appeal following Fubara’s reinstatement after a six‑month suspension ordered by President Bola Tinubu.

During Fubara’s suspension, Ibas administered the state and made numerous appointments. Eze claims those should not stand.

“I expect the Governor to sack all the appointees of the illegal Sole Administrator and ensure that nobody imposes anybody on him as his Commissioner or aide even as Nyesom Wike has promised not to act in such a devilish act of imposing anybody on him,” Eze declared.

He also urged the State Assembly to allow for reconciliation by reabsorbing members who resigned or were aligned with Ibas during the emergency rule.

Eze further called on President Tinubu to guarantee Fubara’s political security and warn against any attempt to undermine him via impeachment.

He insisted that Fubara must exercise the full authority of his elected office.

President Tinubu had lifted the state of emergency in Rivers State on September 17, 2025, officially reinstating Fubara.

During the emergency, Ibas suspended all political appointees of Fubara, including commissioners, board members, aides, and other senior officials, and directed them to hand over to permanent secretaries.

Ibas also appointed administrators for Local Government Areas (LGAs) and reconstituted boards, commissions and agencies that had been suspended.

Chief Sam Nkire, founding member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has stated that the return of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to the APC would virtually guarantee President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s victory in the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking in a statement on Sunday, Nkire urged President Tinubu to take steps to bring Kwankwaso, the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), back into the APC fold, arguing that doing so would strengthen Tinubu’s position ahead of the election.

Although Tinubu is expected to win in 2027, Nkire maintained that including Kwankwaso would “nail the coffin,” metaphorically speaking, of any serious opposition.

He called on Tinubu to explore an agreement with Kwankwaso, pointing out their long-standing relationship and suggesting that their shared history makes such collaboration feasible.

Nkire also recalled how, during the APC primaries in 2014, he and Kwankwaso jointly approached then-APC leader Bola Tinubu to seek his support, which Tinubu declined, saying he had already committed to General Buhari.

According to Nkire, this earlier episode shows the depth of political connections between Kwankwaso and Tinubu, implying that reconciliation is not only possible but natural.

On the conditions for Kwankwaso’s return, Nkire expressed confidence in Tinubu’s ability to negotiate terms, be they political or aligned with broader collaboration efforts.

He suggested that any deal, merger, or alliance that includes Kwankwaso will bolster Tinubu’s chances and solidify the APC’s position going into 2027.

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has affirmed that the zoning arrangement for the governorship position among the state’s three senatorial districts has now been officially adopted and should guide future elections.

Speaking on Saturday at Abatete during an endorsement rally organized in his honor, Soludo, who is seeking re-election as the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate in the November 8, 2025 governorship election, stated that zoning has been institutionalised in Anambra politics.

He emphasized that after the South Senatorial District (which he represents) completes its term, it will be the turn of the Central Senatorial District to hold the governorship position for the next eight years.

This follows the North District’s previous eight-year tenure.

The rally also doubled as a homecoming for Ifeanyi Ibezi, a former member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who recently defected to APGA. Soludo welcomed him back, describing APGA as a natural home for progressives in Anambra.

“Anambra is APGA, and APGA is Anambra,” Soludo said, adding that the party has transformed into a people-driven movement with communities organizing support rallies independently.

He praised the growing unity within the party and expressed confidence in winning across all 5,720 polling units and 326 political wards in the state.

Addressing voter apathy in Idemili North LGA, which holds the state’s largest voting population but often records low turnout, the governor called on the electorate to change that narrative in the upcoming poll.

Also speaking at the event, Secretary to the State Government, Solo Chukwulobelu, outlined some of Soludo’s projects in the area, such as the construction of two smart schools and the recruitment of teachers.

He expressed confidence that the achievements would translate into voter support.

APGA National Chairman, Sly Ezeokenwa and State Chairman, Ifeatu Obiokoye, praised Ibezi’s return and reiterated the party’s unity and strength ahead of the election.

Other top party and government figures present including Commissioners Ifeanyi Okoma (Works), Law Mefor (Information) and Nelson Omenugha, as well as Idemili North LGA Chairman Stanley Nkwoka and Idemili South Chair Amaka Obi, pledged their full backing for Soludo’s re-election.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of a ₦20 million cheque in support of the governor’s campaign.