Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has approved the appointment of five special advisers, two of whom previously served as state commissioners. The new team will be sworn in at the Executive Council Chambers of Government House, Port Harcourt, at 12:00 noon on Friday, 2 January 2026.
Fubara appoints special advisers to strengthen administration
The appointments come scarcely 72 hours after Mr Fubara carried out a reshuffle of his cabinet, redeploying Commissioner Christopher Green from the Ministry of Sports to the Ministry of Justice where he will serve as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. According to a statement issued by Dr Honour Sirawoo, Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Information and Communications, Green will continue to oversee sports ministry activities until a substantive replacement is named.
The governor’s new special advisers are listed as Barrister Eloka Tasie-Amadi, Professor Peter Medee, Barrister Emmanuel Frank Fubara, Hon. Victor Ekaro and Dr Darlington Oji. Professor Medee and Barr. Tasie-Amadi are former commissioners who previously held the portfolios of Budget and Economic Planning, and Works respectively.
The inclusion of Medee and Tasie-Amadi is notable because both were affected by a recent Supreme Court judgment that confirmed Martin Amaewhule as the authentic Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Their return to government as advisers suggests an effort by the governor to draw experienced hands into his immediate team while navigating the state’s evolving political and legal context.
Officials have asked those to be sworn in to be seated by 11:30 a.m. on the day of the ceremony. The ceremony itself will follow standard protocol, with the oath administered in the presence of senior state officials, members of the executive council and invited guests.
Observers say such appointments are common after cabinet reshuffles. Bringing former commissioners into advisory roles allows a governor to retain institutional knowledge while adjusting ministerial responsibilities. It also provides an avenue for political reconciliation when legal or legislative disputes have altered the composition of office holders.
For Governor Fubara, who has managed a series of high-profile decisions since taking office, the appointments ensure immediate access to expertise in budget planning, public works and legal affairs. Professor Medee’s background in economic planning could assist the administration as it finalises fiscal priorities for the coming year. Barrister Tasie-Amadi’s experience in works may prove useful for ongoing infrastructure projects across the state.
Local media coverage has framed the moves as part of routine governance adjustments rather than a major political realignment. Still, stakeholders within Rivers State and beyond will watch how the new advisers influence policy decisions, particularly in areas tied to economic management and public infrastructure.
This development also follows continued efforts by state leadership to stabilise governance after the Supreme Court ruling and to present a coherent administrative team capable of delivering services. The governor’s office has indicated that further announcements may follow as the administration settles into its new configuration.
Photographs and further details of the swearing-in ceremony will be released by the State Ministry of Information after the event.
Key Takeaways:
- Governor Siminalayi Fubara names five special advisers, including two former commissioners, ahead of a Friday swearing-in.
- The appointments follow a recent cabinet reshuffle that moved the Commissioner for Sports to Justice.
- Prof Peter Medee and Barr. Eloka Tasie-Amadi, both affected by a recent Supreme Court judgement, are among the appointees.
- Swearing-in is scheduled for 12:00 noon on Friday, 2 January 2026, at Government House, Port Harcourt.
