Hundreds of women took to the streets of Port Harcourt on Friday in a bold protest demanding the immediate reinstatement of suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
The demonstrators, predominantly dressed in black, marched to the State Government House, chanting slogans and carrying placards that read: “Bring back Fubara,” “Is the law different for Rivers State?” and “Save our democracy.”
According to Naija News, the protesters described themselves as “mothers and wives” united in their quest for justice and the restoration of democracy in Rivers State.
“We are here to demand the return of our duly elected governor,” one protester stated. “This injustice must not stand. We want democracy, not a masked military rule.”
Their protest follows the suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the entire State House of Assembly in March 2025 after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state. The move has sparked widespread outrage and accusations of democratic backsliding.
“This is an unconstitutional military rule, masked as a state of emergency,” another protester said. “We appeal to President Tinubu to restore all democratic institutions in Rivers State.”
The women urged the Federal Government to reverse what they describe as a violation of the people’s will, calling on the President to “end injustice and bring back our governor.”
The suspension of Fubara has remained a flashpoint in Nigerian politics, with civil society groups, legal bodies, and political analysts raising alarms over the implications for democracy and rule of law.
The protest adds to growing pressure on the federal government as tension continues to rise across the state.