Siminalayi Fubara (born 28 January 1975) is a Nigerian politician and accountant who has been the governor of Rivers State since May 23, 2023.
Fubara, a member of the All Progressives Congress since December 2025, was suspended as governor on March 18, 2025, following President Bola Tinubu’s emergency rule. On September 18, 2025, he was reinstated.
Fubara sought governorship in 2023 after winning the PDP primary election. In May 2023, he was elected governor under the party banner. He took office, but was later suspended and replaced by Ibok Ekwe Ibas on March 18, 2025.
His suspension attracted widespread attention, prompting important domestic and foreign authorities to criticize political violence. He earned the 2023 International Peace Prize Medal Award from TheNigerian, a UK magazine. He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management and the Nigerian National Accountants Association.
Siminalayi Fubara Biography
Amaopusenibo Siminalayi Fubara born Siminalayi Joseph Fubara, was born on January 28, 1975, as the second of five children in Opobo, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Fubara is the second of five children and the first son of Late Joseph Fubara, a former soldier who served an overseas training tour, and Late Love Fubara, a government servant.
His father, Joseph Fubara, was a former military veteran, and his mother, Love Fubara, was a civil servant. Fubara completed his basic school at Opobo basic School in 1986 and his secondary education at Comprehensive Secondary School, Opobo in 1992.
He went on to Rivers State University, where he earned his degree in business education. He also has a postgraduate degree in accounting from Enugu State University of Science and Technology. He earned his MSc in Finance and MBA from the University of Port Harcourt’s Business School.
Career
Fubara began his work in 2003 as a Principal Accountant for the Rivers State Senior Secondary School Board. In 2015, he became Director of Finance and Accounts at the State’s government house, and in March 2020, he was promoted to Permanent Secretary.
He was named Accountant General of Rivers State on December 23, 2020, and served until May 22, 2022, when he won the People’s Democratic Party governorship primary for the 2023 general elections.
He is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management and the Nigerian Association of National Accountants.
Fubara won the PDP governorship primary election on May 26, 2022. He received 721 votes in the primary election, beating out the other 16 contenders. Other contenders included Isaac Kamalu (86 votes), Alabo Dakorinama George-Kelly (37 votes), and Tammy Danagogo (36 votes).
He was widely reported to have Nyesom Wike’s endorsement. On March 20, 2023, he won the Rivers State governorship election. The Independent National Electoral Commission pronounced him the winner with 302,614 popular votes, defeating Tonye Cole of the All Progressives Congress with 95,274 popular votes and Beatrice Itubo of the Labour Party with 22,224.
Fubara was officially inaugurated on May 29, 2023, alongside his deputy, Ngozi Odu. The occasion was attended by Samuel Ortom, Ayodele Fayose, and former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili, among others.
Political Crisis
The political crisis in Rivers State erupted following an alleged power struggle between Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is both Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and godfather. When he became governor in May 2023, many journalists think he was Wike’s protégé.
According to The Nigerian Observer, supporters of Fubara accused Wike of being a “meddlesome interloper who, rather than concentrate on his hectic ministerial duties, chose to be overbearing in the affairs of Rivers State”.
They said that during Wike’s tenure, his predecessor Rotimi Amaechi did not interfere with his administration.
A series of power struggles erupted ahead to the 2027 governorship election. There were also other efforts to impeach the governor. Meanwhile, impeachment inevitably results in street protests, judicial disputes, and state violence.
The Rivers State House of Assembly divided at the end of 2023, resulting in Martins Amaewhule-led and Victor Oko-Jumbo-led assemblies. Fubara validated the Oko-Jumbo-led assembly. The House of Assembly building was also burned down.
Following these actions, President Bola Tinubu met with Fubara in Abuja in December 2023 and requested that Martins Amaewhule be recognized as Speaker of the House of Assembly, along with other members that defected to the APC.
On February 28, 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that the Amaewhule-led legislature was genuine. The court also ordered that federal financing for the state be discontinued.
The court deemed Fubara’s local government election on October 5, 2024, invalid and fired the area’s elected leaders.
Natives threatened to interfere with oil installations if Fubara is impeached. An explosion attacked a segment of the Trans-Niger Pipeline in Gonna, while another exploded a pipeline manifold at Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni.
On March 18, 2025, Bola Tinubu suspended Fubara, his cabinet, and all members of the Assembly after declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State. According to the president, “intense political instability and crisis have paralyzed governance and threatened national stability.”
Former Chief of the Nigerian Navy, Ibok Ekwe Ibas, became the state’s only administrator until the suspension was lifted on September 18, 2025.
On December 9, 2025, Fubara switched from the PDP to the APC. Following his departure, 17 members of the state’s House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, defected to the APC.
Following the suspension and reinstatement, Bolaji Abdullahi, the national press secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), issued a statement calling the president’s move “a dangerous precedent that could weaken Nigeria’s democracy and encourage federal overreach.”
The party further stated that the problem “poses a serious risk to constitutional governance and the balance of power between federal and state authorities.”
The party also asked the federal court to interpret Section 305 of the Nigerian constitution, citing the constitution’s provision for emergency rule in cases such as resolving unconstitutional concerns and public threats such as floods, epidemics, or insurgencies.
Seven state governments, led by governors from the opposition PDP party, sued President Bola Tinubu in Nigeria’s Supreme Court.
According to reports, lawyer Festus Ogun contended that “President Bola Tinubu lacks constitutional authority to suspend Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy.”
While the President may proclaim a state of emergency, he does not have the legal authority to dismiss elected officials.”
Another human rights lawyer and activist, Inibehe Effiong, agreed, stating that “President Tinubu has no constitutional authority to suspend the Governor of Rivers State or members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.”
The emergency powers specified in the 1999 Constitution do not grant him this authority.
Controversy
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission designated Fubara and 58 other government officials sought in May 2022 in connection with an NGN 435 billion fraud.
He was also wanted for an NGN 117 billion fraud, along with four other Rivers State government officials. The EFCC also charged alleged criminal conspiracy, money laundering, theft of public funds, and abuse of office.
Siminalayi Fubara Wife
He is married to Valerie Fubara and the couple has three children.
Siminalayi Fubara Net Worth
Siminalayi Fubara’s net worth is predicted to be more than $550 million by 2026, making him Nigeria’s second richest governor.
Social Media
X: @SimFubaraKSC
