Thousands of supporters who had gathered at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Thursday morning to welcome Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara were left disappointed after waiting for hours.

Many arrived as early as 6 a.m. from across the state, including rural communities, but began leaving between 12 noon and 1 p.m. as the governor failed to show up.

Local government leaders loyal to Fubara, including former Obio/Akpor chairman Chijoke Ihunwo and former Port Harcourt City chairman Ezebunwo Itche-Mati, were seen making frantic calls while the governor’s whereabouts remained unknown.

Notably absent were supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, including newly elected LG chairmen. Frustrated attendees cited hunger and fatigue, with one remarking, “We are going because we are hungry. Maybe when the governor comes, we will return.”

The incident coincided with the expiration of the six-month emergency rule in Rivers State, which had been imposed amid tensions between Governor Fubara and the Assembly, largely controlled by Wike loyalists.

President Bola Tinubu formally ended the State of Emergency on Wednesday, restoring full democratic governance in the state. During the emergency, Tinubu had appointed Ibas as administrator after dissolving political structures to reestablish order in the oil-rich state.