The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has firmly rejected any form of political agreement that would compel suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to serve only a single term in office. According to the Council, such a condition would be a clear violation of his constitutional rights and an unacceptable form of political oppression.
Speaking during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, the President of the IYC, Theophilus Alaye, declared the Council’s full support for Governor Fubara’s right to seek re-election in 2027, should he choose to do so.
Alaye emphasized that the Nigerian Constitution grants Fubara the right to contest for a second term, just like any other elected governor in the country. He warned that no political figure — including the governor’s predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike — should attempt to impose a single-term limit as a condition for political reconciliation or reinstatement.
“The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, is a Nigerian citizen. By virtue of the Nigerian Constitution, we believe he has the full right to seek re-election,” Alaye stated. He further noted that the idea of a single-term agreement remains speculative at best.
“If and when we get to 2027, and the people of Rivers State believe he has delivered the dividends of democracy, it should be up to them to determine whether he deserves another term.”
He added, “As the President of the Ijaw Youth Council, I want to make it clear that if there is indeed any agreement restricting him to one term, we will not be a part of it. That would be a blatant infringement on his constitutional rights.”
Alaye stressed that the IYC, as a body that has historically represented marginalized voices, would never stand by while a fellow Nigerian is politically oppressed. “Oppression is something we have resisted for decades. It is ingrained in our culture to agitate for justice and fairness. Supporting Governor Fubara for re-election in 2027, if he so wishes, is well within our values. We will not allow any group to trample on his rights.”
The political crisis in Rivers State had reached a boiling point earlier in the year, prompting President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in March 2025. As part of the federal intervention, Governor Fubara, his Deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly were suspended amid escalating tensions.
However, in late June, signs of a possible resolution emerged as the warring factions — including Fubara and Wike — were seen in the company of President Tinubu. Following a closed-door meeting, they issued a joint statement expressing readiness to work together moving forward.
Despite this truce, the Ijaw Youth Council remains steadfast in its stance: no political compromise should come at the expense of Governor Fubara’s fundamental rights or the will of the Rivers people.