Siminalayi Fubara biography covers the age, wife, children, education, family, career, political party and net worth of the Rivers State governor. Born on 28 January 1975 in Opobo Town, Rivers State, Fubara began his career in the state civil service before becoming Accountant General and later entering elective politics.
Fubara won the 2023 Rivers State governorship election as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate and became governor on 29 May 2023. He later joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December 2025. His biography also covers his Ijaw background, parents, wife Valerie Fubara, three children, education, previous office, political career and the political crisis that led to his suspension during the 2025 state of emergency.
Siminalayi Fubara Profile
| Information | Details |
| Full name | Siminalayi Joseph Fubara |
| Date of birth | 28 January 1975 |
| Age | 51 years |
| Place of birth | Opobo Town, Rivers State |
| State of origin | Rivers State |
| Local government area | Opobo/Nkoro |
| Ethnic group | Ijaw |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Profession | Accountant and politician |
| Wife | Valerie Ibiere Fubara |
| Children | Three |
| Father | Joseph Fubara |
| Mother | Love Fubara |
| Education | Rivers State University, ESUT, University of Port Harcourt Business School |
| Former office | Accountant General of Rivers State |
| Political party | All Progressives Congress (APC) |
| Former political party | Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) |
| Current office | Governor of Rivers State |
| Assumed office | 29 May 2023 |
Siminalayi Fubara Age, Birthday and Early Life
Fubara is 51 years old as of 29 July 2026. He was born on 28 January 1975 in Opobo Town, Rivers State.
Fubara is the second child and first son in his family. His father, Joseph Fubara, was a soldier, while his mother, Love Fubara, was a civil servant. His parents were from the Fubara and Jaja families of Opobo Town.
Fubara has identified himself as an Ijaw man and has spoken about Opobo’s place in Ijaw history.
Siminalayi Fubara Education
Fubara attended Opobo Primary School, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1986. He later attended Comprehensive Secondary School, Opobo, and obtained his West African School Certificate in 1992.
Sim studied Business Education with a specialisation in Accountancy at the former Rivers State University of Science and Technology, now Rivers State University. He later obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting from Enugu State University of Science and Technology.
Fubara also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Science (MSc) in Finance from the University of Port Harcourt Business School. He is a fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Management, the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Taxation.
Siminalayi Fubara Career
Fubara began his career in the Rivers State civil service in 2003, when the Rivers State Post-Primary Schools Board appointed him as a teacher at Comprehensive High School, Alesa-Eleme.
He moved to the Rivers State Ministry of Finance in 2007 and worked through several accounting positions, including Senior Accountant, Principal Accountant, Chief Accountant, Assistant Director, Deputy Director and Director. In 2015, he became Director of Finance and Accounts at the Rivers State Government House.
Fubara became a Permanent Secretary in 2020 and was appointed Accountant General of Rivers State in December 2020. He held the position before leaving the civil service to contest the governorship election.
Siminalayi Fubara Political Career
Fubara entered elective politics after his career in the Rivers State civil service. He won the PDP governorship primary in Rivers State in May 2022, defeating 15 other aspirants with 721 votes.
He won the 18 March 2023 Rivers State governorship election with 302,614 votes. APC candidate Tonye Cole received 95,274 votes, while other candidates included Magnus Abe of the SDP and Beatrice Itubo of the Labour Party.
Fubara was sworn in as Governor of Rivers State on 29 May 2023, succeeding Nyesom Wike.
Siminalayi Fubara, Nyesom Wike and the Rivers Political Crisis
Nyesom Wike supported Fubara’s emergence as the PDP governorship candidate in 2022. Fubara had also served in the Rivers State government during Wike’s tenure and became Accountant General in 2020.
Their relationship deteriorated after Fubara became governor, leading to a prolonged dispute involving the governor, the Rivers State House of Assembly and political structures linked to Wike. The crisis later resulted in President Bola Tinubu declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State on 18 March 2025.
Tinubu suspended Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as sole administrator.
The emergency rule ended in September 2025. Tinubu directed Fubara, his deputy and the lawmakers to resume office from 18 September 2025, restoring the elected state government.
Fubara Political Party
Fubara is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as of July 2026.
He won the 2023 governorship election as a PDP candidate but left the party in December 2025 and formally received an APC membership card on 12 December 2025.
In May 2026, Fubara withdrew from the APC governorship primary in Rivers State. He said he would support whoever emerged as the party’s candidate and would continue serving as governor until the end of his tenure.
Kingsley Chinda later emerged as the APC governorship candidate after Fubara and other aspirants withdrew from the contest.
On 22 July 2026, Fubara declared support for the Rivers Rainbow Coalition, backed President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election and endorsed Kingsley Chinda as his preferred Rivers governorship candidate.
Siminalayi Fubara Wife and Children
Siminalayi Fubara is married to Valerie Ibiere Fubara. The couple have three children.
Valerie has appeared alongside Fubara at official and community events, while the family generally keeps details about their children private.
Fubara Religion
Fubara is a Christian and has been associated with the Anglican Church. His biographical profile records that he received the Knight of Saint Christopher (KSC) honour from the Anglican Communion in 2020.
Siminalayi Fubara Net Worth
Siminalayi Fubara’s estimated net worth is $600 million, according to BitPidia’s 2026 list of the richest governors in Nigeria. The publication ranks him as the second richest governor in Nigeria, behind Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago.
BitPidia attributes Fubara’s estimated wealth to interests it describes in oil and gas, banking and financial services, real estate and investments. It also lists real estate in Port Harcourt and Abuja, oil and gas interests, banking holdings, properties and vehicles among his assets.
Fubara Current Position
Siminalayi Fubara remains the Governor of Rivers State as of 29 July 2026. The State House identified him as Rivers State governor during the 2026 Nigerian Army Day Celebration in Port Harcourt on 6 July 2026.
He is currently an APC member and has withdrawn from the party’s 2027 Rivers governorship primary. His latest political position includes support for the Rivers Rainbow Coalition, President Bola Tinubu and APC governorship candidate Kingsley Chinda.
Siminalayi Fubara Biography Timeline
| Year | Event |
| 1975 | Born in Opobo Town, Rivers State |
| 1986 | Obtained First School Leaving Certificate |
| 1992 | Obtained West African School Certificate |
| 2003 | Began working in the Rivers State civil service |
| 2007 | Joined the Rivers State Ministry of Finance |
| 2015 | Became Director of Finance and Accounts at Rivers State Government House |
| 2020 | Became Permanent Secretary and Accountant General of Rivers State |
| 2022 | Won the PDP Rivers State governorship primary |
| 2023 | Won the Rivers State governorship election |
| 29 May 2023 | Became Governor of Rivers State |
| 18 March 2025 | Suspended during the Rivers State state of emergency |
| 18 September 2025 | Returned to office after the emergency rule ended |
| December 2025 | Joined the APC |
| May 2026 | Withdrew from the APC governorship primary |
| July 2026 | Backed Tinubu, the Rainbow Coalition and Kingsley Chinda |
Siminalayi Fubara Biography FAQs
Who is Siminalayi Fubara?
Siminalayi Fubara is an accountant and politician who serves as Governor of Rivers State.
How old is Siminalayi Fubara?
Siminalayi Fubara is 51 years old as of July 2026. He was born on 28 January 1975.
Where is Siminalayi Fubara from?
He is from Opobo Town, Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State.
What is Siminalayi Fubara’s state of origin?
His state of origin is Rivers State, Nigeria.
What tribe is Siminalayi Fubara?
Fubara has identified himself as an Ijaw man and has spoken about his Opobo roots within Ijaw history.
Who are Siminalayi Fubara’s parents?
His father was Joseph Fubara, a soldier, and his mother was Love Fubara, a civil servant.
Who is Siminalayi Fubara’s wife?
His wife is Valerie Ibiere Fubara.
How many children does Siminalayi Fubara have?
Siminalayi Fubara has three children.
What did Siminalayi Fubara study?
He studied Business Education with a specialisation in Accountancy and later obtained postgraduate qualifications in accounting, business administration and finance.
What was Siminalayi Fubara’s job before becoming governor?
He was an accountant and Rivers State civil servant. He served as Accountant General of RiversState before entering elective politics.
When did Siminalayi Fubara become governor?
He became Governor of Rivers State on 29 May 2023.
Which party did Siminalayi Fubara use to win the 2023 election?
He won the 2023 Rivers State governorship election as the PDP candidate.
What political party is Siminalayi Fubara in now?
He is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Was Siminalayi Fubara suspended as governor?
Yes. President Bola Tinubu suspended Fubara during the Rivers State state of emergency declared on 18 March 2025. Fubara returned to office after the emergency rule ended in September 2025.
Did Siminalayi Fubara contest the 2027 APC governorship primary?
No. He withdrew from the APC governorship primary in May 2026.
Who does Siminalayi Fubara support for the 2027 Rivers governorship election?
In July 2026, Fubara endorsed Kingsley Chinda and declared support for the Rivers Rainbow Coalition. He also backed President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.
Is Siminalayi Fubara still Governor of Rivers State?
Yes. Siminalayi Fubara remains Governor of Rivers State as of 29 July 2026.
What is Siminalayi Fubara’s net worth?
No reliable source establishes Siminalayi Fubara’s current net worth.
