Women march in Port Harcourt, demand reinstatement of Fubara, deputy

Hundreds of women took to the streets of Port Harcourt on Friday, calling for the immediate reinstatement of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, who were recently suspended amid an ongoing political crisis in the state.

The peaceful protest, which began along the busy Aba Road and proceeded toward the Rivers State Government House, saw women from various walks of life holding placards bearing messages such as “Bring Back Fubara,” “Save Our Democracy,” and “God of Justice, Arise for Rivers State.”

Chanting solidarity songs and prayers for divine intervention, the women urged President Bola Tinubu to reverse the suspension and restore democratic governance in the state. They described the current leadership arrangement, which saw the appointment of a sole administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, as “a veiled military rule under the guise of a state of emergency.”

“We voted for Fubara, not for an appointee. What is happening now is far from democracy,” one protester said.

Before the march, the demonstrators gathered at Isaac Boro Park for prayers, seeking divine guidance and justice. Organizers stressed that the movement was non-partisan, emphasizing that their demand was rooted in the protection of democratic values and respect for the people’s mandate.

Many of the women expressed frustration over the political turmoil that has gripped the state in recent weeks. Despite the chaos, they acknowledged that Governor Fubara had continued to deliver on key developmental projects.