Jonathan Lokpobiri, President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), rejected a proposed single-term condition for Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s return to office, following President Tinubu’s lifting of the state’s emergency rule.
The condition, allegedly pushed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s camp during reconciliation talks, would bar Fubara from seeking re-election in 2027. Lokpobiri, representing 5 million Ijaw youths, called the condition “undemocratic,” arguing that Fubara’s 1.8 million votes in 2023 reflect Rivers’ mandate. “We stand by our governor to serve his full term and beyond,” he declared.
The emergency rule, imposed in March 2025 amid Wike-Fubara tensions, disrupted Rivers’ $10 billion oil economy. Tinubu’s intervention, mediated by Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, reinstated Fubara, with Wike agreeing to halt hostilities.
Lokpobiri demanded accountability for the N1.48 trillion 2025 budget, particularly the N24 billion CCTV allocation, to curb 1,000 annual kidnappings. The IYC, controlling 40% of Rivers’ electorate, plans a 2026 summit to mobilize 2 million voters for Fubara, projecting a 10% increase in PDP’s vote share. The rejection signals ongoing tensions, with 30% of Rivers’ lawmakers loyal to Wike.