In a historic, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months.
The announcement was made during a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, where the President cited the escalating political crisis in the state as the reason for his intervention.
“By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs. Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months,” Tinubu stated.
The crisis in Rivers State has been ongoing for months, fueled by a power struggle between Governor Fubara and the state lawmakers, many of whom are loyal to former governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. The political turmoil has led to instability in governance, legal disputes, and legislative conflicts, prompting federal intervention.
Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas Appointed as Administrator
As part of the emergency measures, President Tinubu has appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas as the state’s administrator, assigning him the task of restoring order and ensuring governance continuity.
“In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (retd.) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State. For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate,” the President added.
Vice Admiral Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff, is expected to restore stability, curb political unrest, and ensure that governance continues smoothly in Rivers State during the six-month emergency period.
PDP Rejects Emergency Rule, Calls Tinubu’s Move Unconstitutional
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the state of emergency, describing Tinubu’s decision as unconstitutional and an attempt to override the will of Rivers voters.
“The unconstitutional declaration by President Tinubu, suspending a democratically elected governor and appointing an unelected individual, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (retd.), to govern the state, is a direct attack on our democracy and an abrogation of the people’s democratic rights,” the PDP said in a statement.
The opposition party questioned the legality of Tinubu’s actions, stating that Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution does not grant the President unilateral powers to remove a sitting governor or dissolve a state legislature without National Assembly approval.
“Nothing in Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution grants the President the exclusive power to suspend an elected governor and state lawmakers. This is an illegal attempt at state capture and a violation of democratic principles,” the PDP statement continued.
The party further alleged that the emergency rule in Rivers State is part of a broader plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to weaken opposition-led states.
Update coming…
