Ijaw Youths Reject One-Term Agreement for Governor Fubara

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has firmly rejected any proposal that would restrict Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to a single term as a condition for his continued tenure in office.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, IYC President Theophilus Alaye declared that Governor Fubara, like any Nigerian citizen, is entitled under the Constitution to seek re-election in 2027.

“We believe the governor has the right to seek re-election,” Alaye stated, emphasizing that any arrangement seeking to deny Fubara this right would constitute a violation of his fundamental democratic and constitutional freedoms.

He described rumors of a one-term deal as speculative, warning against any political agreement that would undermine Fubara’s constitutional rights. Alaye assured that the Ijaw Youth Council would support the governor’s right to seek a second term, based on performance and the will of the Rivers people.

“When we get to 2027, we’ll know whether such a deal exists. If he has delivered the dividends of democracy, it will be up to the people of Rivers State to decide if he should return or not,” Alaye said.

He added: “If a single-term agreement exists, some of us will not support it because it infringes on his fundamental rights and goes against the Nigerian Constitution. We’ve always stood against oppression. As a historically marginalised group, resistance and agitation are part of our identity.”

Alaye reiterated that the IYC would not stand by while any individual or group attempts to limit the governor’s democratic rights, asserting that backing Fubara for a second term would be consistent with the council’s longstanding commitment to justice and equity.

He concluded that the people of Rivers State—not political actors—should ultimately decide Fubara’s political future, based on his achievements in office.

This comes in the wake of the political crisis in Rivers State, which prompted President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in March 2025 and temporarily suspend Governor Fubara, his deputy, and members of the state assembly. Tensions have since eased following a meeting brokered by President Tinubu between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, where both parties pledged to work together.

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