Kenneth Okonkwo has accused Tinubu of illegally shortening Fubara’s tenure in Rivers State.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Nollywood actor and Labour Party chieftain, Kenneth Okonkwo, has accused President Bola Tinubu of unlawfully depriving Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, of his full four-year constitutional mandate through the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.
In a statement released on Saturday via his account, Okonkwo argued that Fubara’s tenure should legally extend to November 29, 2027, rather than the conventional May 29, 2027, to compensate for the six months lost during the state of emergency.
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Okonkwo Calls for Legal Challenge
“Governor Fubara was elected to serve for four years from the date of his swearing-in,” Okonkwo said. “The illegal declaration of a state of emergency has reduced his term of office illegally by six months. He has the right to challenge this in court to recover his lost time.”
The Labour Party stalwart cited Supreme Court precedent, noting that Nigeria’s highest court has ruled that governors must serve four full years starting from their swearing-in date. He maintained that cutting Fubara’s term short would amount to disenfranchising the people of Rivers State.
“If Fubara leaves office on May 29, 2027, he would have served only three years and six months instead of four years,” he said. “His tenure should end on November 29, 2027.”
Warns Against Early Elections
Okonkwo further warned that holding gubernatorial elections in Rivers State before November 29, 2027, would be unconstitutional and could set a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s democracy.
“Any conduct of gubernatorial elections before the expiration of his tenure on November 29, 2027, should be deemed illegal and unconstitutional,” he said. “This will send a clear message to every future President that no action can terminate or shorten the will of the people as expressed through elections.”
He added that the mandate to govern Rivers State rests solely with its people, not the President or any unelected administrator.
“Rivers State must recover all the months that Tinubu’s government has wasted for them,” he declared.
