Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has said that every decision concerning the recent local government elections in Rivers state was made with the input of Governor Siminalayi Fubara during the emergency rule.

The former Rivers governor made the claim on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) conducted the August 30 polls under the oversight of Ibok-Ete Ibas, the sole administrator appointed by President Bola Tinubu to govern the state during the emergency rule.

Fubara and his political allies, however, did not participate in the elections.

Reacting to the governor’s absence, Wike explained that he had personally gone to Fubara’s home to deliberate on the polls.

According to him, the governor had informed him earlier that he would not be available on election day due to a family engagement.

“This is what Nigerians should know: the governor wanted to come and see me. I said, ‘No, you’re the governor.’ I drove to the governor’s house by 1 am,” Wike said.

“I, the former governor of Rivers state, drove to the governor’s house at 1 am. I said, ‘Your Excellency, what do we do?’ There’s nothing that was done that the governor wasn’t part of.”

He added that Fubara travelled out of the state before the polls took place.

“Even before the election, the governor travelled. He told me he will not be around because his son has this engagement,” Wike said.

The FCT minister further accused critics of spreading misinformation about the Rivers political situation.

“People just sit somewhere and begin to talk about all kinds of things they don’t even know,” he said.

“All they were expecting is, ‘Oh, they’ve not settled.’ Unfortunately, where people will be collecting money is no longer there.”

The local government elections were largely won by the All Progressives Congress (APC), with Fubara — a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — losing in his own local government area.

The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has formally launched disciplinary action against the South African Football Association (SAFA) and midfielder Teboho Mokoena for alleged violation of competition regulations during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The case arises from South Africa’s 2-0 victory over Lesotho on March 21, 2025, in Polokwane, where Mokoena was fielded despite being suspended.

The 28-year-old had previously collected two yellow cards in the qualifiers — first against Benin in November 2023 and again against Zimbabwe in June 2024. Under FIFA rules, that accumulation should have triggered a one-match suspension.

In a letter to SAFA dated September 15, 2025, and obtained by South African broadcaster SABC, FIFA confirmed that both Mokoena and the association are facing charges for “fielding an ineligible player.”

The matter has now been referred to FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee, which has given both SAFA and the player six days to respond.

If found guilty, South Africa could be forced to forfeit the result, with Lesotho awarded a 3-0 victory on paper. Additional penalties, including fines or suspensions, may also be imposed.

Such a ruling would alter Group C standings: South Africa would drop to 14 points after eight matches, level with Benin but still top on goal difference (+6 compared to Benin’s +4). Lesotho would climb to nine points, two behind Nigeria and Rwanda, who are tied on 11 points each.

The development has increased pressure on coach Hugo Broos and his squad, who must defeat Zimbabwe and Rwanda in October to secure qualification — unless Benin falters against Rwanda and Nigeria.

SAFA has yet to issue an official statement on the disciplinary case.

The Rivers State House of Assembly has reconvened after the expiration of a six-month emergency rule declared in the state by President Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu lifted the emergency rule on September 17, directing Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the assembly to resume their official duties on September 18.

Thursday’s plenary session was presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule and held at the conference hall within the assembly quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Since the assembly chamber at the Moscow Road complex was razed and later demolished by the state government, lawmakers have been using the conference hall as their temporary chamber.

The reconstruction of the assembly complex, which was overseen by the outgone sole administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not be completed before his exit.

On March 18, Tinubu had declared emergency rule in Rivers State following a protracted political crisis triggered by the rift between Governor Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

More to come…