As the emergency rule imposed in Rivers State approaches its end, Sole Administrator Ibok Ekwe Ibas has stated that he has “fulfilled Tinubu’s mandate,” reigniting debate over governance and legitimacy in the oil-rich state.
Ibas has overseen the state for the past six months, following the suspension of the duly elected governor, Siminalayi Fubara. His tenure, set to lapse on 18 September, has stirred questions about how the transition back to elected leadership will be managed.
Analysts note that the unfolding situation offers a test case for how suspensions of elected officials are concluded, and whether the reinstatement of Fubara will be swift or subject to further political delays.
The development dominated national newspaper headlines on Friday, alongside stories of bank recapitalisation, which has entered its final 200-day countdown, and the First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s meeting with state first ladies and female chief executives.
In broader national discourse, economic concerns remain at the forefront. Commentaries in the Guardian questioned the government’s fiscal strategy amid a rising debt profile of over ₦149 trillion, noting that Nigerians continue to face heavier taxation despite earlier claims of meeting revenue targets. The discussion also highlighted the challenge of energy poverty, identified as a driver of deforestation as many households still rely on firewood.
The aviation sector is equally unsettled following revelations from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) about alleged substance use by crew members of an Air Peace flight that skidded off the runway in Port Harcourt on 15 July. While NSIB claimed tests detected alcohol and THC, affected staff have strongly denied the allegations, citing inconsistencies and possible bias. Safety experts have called for tighter oversight and more frequent random testing, warning that lapses could endanger passengers.
On the political front, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has scheduled a National Working Committee meeting to press undecided members ahead of its convention planned for 2026. The party, now under the leadership of Senator David Mark, has been positioned by some as a potential alternative to the ruling APC. Speculation is mounting over whether former President Goodluck Jonathan or Peter Obi might align with the ADC, though neither has confirmed such moves.