Rivers State sole administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas has denied summoning suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, calling the circulating report a “malicious fabrication.” The state government urged the public to disregard the false claims, blaming political agitators for spreading disinformation aimed at destabilizing the already tense region.
Amid mounting political uncertainty in Rivers State, the sole administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas has strongly refuted claims that he summoned suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, to appear before a panel of inquiry.
The rebuttal follows unverified social media reports alleging that the duo were instructed to report to the Government House for questioning regarding executive appointments made before their suspension. The viral claims triggered confusion across the state, already shaken by months of political wrangling.
In a statement released Wednesday through the permanent secretary to the state government, Dede Friday, the Rivers administration labeled the reports “malicious fabrications” intended to stir unrest.
“These are coordinated falsehoods being peddled to create panic and mislead the public,” the statement read. “No such summons was issued by any arm of the government, and the public is urged to ignore these false reports.”
Tensions have remained high in Rivers since March 18, when President Bola Tinubu invoked emergency rule, citing prolonged governance challenges. The decision led to the suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy, and members of the state legislature, and the subsequent appointment of Ibas as the sole administrator.
