Thousands of eager supporters gathered at the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt on Thursday morning, hoping to welcome Governor Siminalayi Fubara back to office after a six-month emergency rule.

But after hours of waiting, they left disappointed.

Supporters had arrived as early as 6 a.m. from across the statestate, including rural areas, in anticipation of Fubara’s return following President Bola Tinubu’s formal declaration ending the state of emergency in Rivers.

By midday, between 12 pm and 1 pm, the crowd began to disperse as there was still no sign of the governor.

Some visibly frustrated supporters, including former local government chairmen loyal to Fubara, were seen making frantic phone calls trying to locate the governor.

Among those present were former Obio/Akpor chairman, Chijioke Ihunwo, and Port Harcourt City’s former chairman, Ezebunwo Itche-Mati.

These sacked LG bosses had brought along their followers in a show of support.

Notably absent were supporters of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and political rival of Fubara.

Newly elected LG chairmen allied with Wike were also nowhere to be seen at the Government House.

Some disappointed attendees voiced their frustration.

“We are going because we are hungry. Maybe when the governor comes, we will return,” one supporter said.

The gathering came on the heels of the official end of the emergency rule imposed earlier this year.

The emergency was declared by President Tinubu in March due to the escalating political conflict between Governor Fubara and the state House of Assembly, which is dominated by loyalists of Minister Wike.

During the emergency period, political structures were suspended and a caretaker administrator, Ibas, was appointed to stabilize the state.

With the emergency rule lifted, the expectation was high for a symbolic return of Governor Fubara.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a stern rebuke to President Bola Tinubu, accusing him of overstepping his constitutional authority by suspending and reinstating elected officials in Rivers State.

In a statement on Thursday, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, criticized the President’s recent move, declaring that the Nigerian Constitution does not grant the President the power to hire or fire state governors or lawmakers.

The backlash follows Tinubu’s announcement on Wednesday lifting the six-month state of emergency declared in Rivers State in March 2025.

With the declaration, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, including Speaker Martins Amaewhule, were directed to resume duties immediately.

“It gives me great pleasure to declare that the emergency in Rivers State shall end with effect from midnight today,” Tinubu said.

But the ADC condemned the development, describing it as a violation of democratic principles and a dangerous precedent.

“The President’s decision to suspend and then recall elected officials is whimsically autocratic. It undermines the Constitution and democratic order,” the ADC said.

The party argued that the events in Rivers State over the past six months amounted to political manipulation, not genuine governance, adding that Tinubu’s actions masked personal or political interests behind a façade of national leadership.

The ADC accused the President of behaving as though governors were federal appointees, rather than officials elected by their people.

“Governors and lawmakers do not draw legitimacy from Aso Rock. Only a competent court can remove or restrain them, not a presidential proclamation or press release,” the party added.

The statement further called attention to what it described as the erosion of state autonomy and the emergence of an overcentralized power structure, warning that the Rivers situation could be used to intimidate other governors into submission.

“What happened in Rivers is not just about one state. It’s a message to all states that their loyalty must lie with Abuja, not with their constituents.”

The ADC also challenged Tinubu’s supposed concern for national security, mocking reports that he had ended his vacation due to rising insecurity.

“He didn’t return because Nigerians are being killed or suffering. He came back to personally oversee the return of Fubara and assert his authority,” the party alleged.

Calling on the Supreme Court and the broader judiciary to intervene, the ADC urged the courts to clearly define constitutional limits and stop executive overreach.

“Section 305 of the Constitution was not meant for settling political scores. It was created for true emergencies, disasters, insurrections, not political expediency,” it said.

“Unless the judiciary speaks up, future presidents may feel emboldened to interfere directly in state governance, eroding Nigeria’s federal structure and democratic stability.”

Concerns are mounting in Benue State following the disappearance of two individuals, including a top aide to Governor Hyacinth Alia.

One of the missing persons is Atu Terver, the Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth and Media Mobilisation.

He was last seen on Tuesday, reportedly travelling from Makurdi to Abuja but never arrived at his destination.

The second individual, Asom Jerry, a well-known social media activist, has also been declared missing.

His disappearance has sparked intense speculation online, with some alleging he was arrested by security operatives, though no official confirmation has been given.

Speaking with Punch on Thursday, Terver’s wife, Mrs. Civir Terver, confirmed her husband had set out for Abuja to visit his family but lost contact along the way.

“He left Makurdi on Tuesday and was coming to see us in Abuja but didn’t show up. The case was reported to the police here, and they said they are investigating. As of today, there’s still no information on his whereabouts,” she said.

When asked if she had been contacted by the state government, she responded that there had been no communication from her husband’s employer.

The Benue State Police Command stated it had no information on the alleged arrest of Jerry.

Police spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, explained that Terver’s case was under the jurisdiction of the FCT Command, as the incident reportedly occurred outside Benue.

“I’m just hearing about the activist’s arrest from you. As for the governor’s aide, the matter happened in Abuja, not in Benue State,” Edet said.

Attempts to reach the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kula Terso, were unsuccessful, as calls went unanswered.

Meanwhile, the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Austin Agada, expressed alarm over the disappearances. In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Daniel Ihomun, the party criticised Governor Alia’s administration for remaining silent.

“The sudden disappearance of prominent Benue citizens, activist and critic Asom Jerry, and the governor’s aide Atu Terver (popularly known as Krazy T) has sparked fear and uncertainty.”

“These events undermine public trust in government and security agencies,” the statement read.

The APC faction condemned what it described as the governor’s “insensitivity and inaction,” urging security agencies to intensify efforts to locate the missing men and ensure those behind the incidents are held accountable.

The party also called on the state government to break its silence, reassure the public and show commitment to protecting the lives and rights of citizens.

The Rivers State House of Assembly has urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara to urgently forward a list of commissioner-nominees to the House for screening and confirmation.

This call was made during Thursday’s plenary session, the first sitting since the end of the six-month emergency rule imposed on the state.

In addition to the call for cabinet appointments, the Assembly also requested that Governor Fubara initiate the process of drafting and presenting a supplementary Appropriation Bill to cover the remaining months of the fiscal year.

The session, presided over by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, saw members pass resolutions emphasizing the need to restore full governance and legislative oversight in the state following the recent political turbulence.