Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his family members are reportedly being held hostage at the Government House in Port Harcourt by a contingent of heavily armed soldiers, sources have revealed.
The incident took place on Tuesday night, shortly after President Bola Tinubu invoked Section 180 of the Nigerian Constitution to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The state of emergency follows a rapidly escalating political feud between Governor Fubara and lawmakers loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, who recently initiated impeachment proceedings against Fubara.
These actions appear to be an attempt to settle political scores following a fallout between the two, despite Fubara’s controversial election in 2023, which occurred amidst allegations of corruption.
Sources within the Rivers State government have told Peoples Gazette that soldiers, acting on the president’s orders following his emergency proclamation, swiftly barricaded all entrances and exits to the Government House on Tuesday evening.
Attempts by Governor Fubara and his family to remove their belongings were reportedly blocked by the soldiers, who also suppressed any movement around the premises.
“We are being held hostage, They said they don’t have instructions to let anyone leave the premises,” an official said anonymously.
At this stage, it remains unclear whether the soldiers were merely executing orders from above or acting out of an overzealous interpretation of those orders.
The declaration of a state of emergency and the suspension of political office holders in Rivers State have sparked intense debate across social media.
Critics, including legal experts and commentators, have questioned the legality of President Tinubu’s move, especially given that the governor has not yet been formally impeached by the state legislature.
Lawyers such as Inibehe Effiong and Folarin ‘Falz’ Falana have criticised the president for what they describe as an overreach of executive power, arguing that the move undermines the constitution and sets a dangerous precedent for executive interference in state politics.
The president’s controversial declaration includes a six-month suspension of all feuding parties in the state, effective immediately. In addition, the president appointed the retired chief of naval staff, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, as the interim military administrator for Rivers State.
The Nigerian Army and Defence Headquarters have yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the treatment of Governor Fubara and his family, or the overall conduct of the military forces involved.
The situation remains fluid, with the governor’s office yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
READ ALSO: Atiku condemns Tinubu’s state of emergency in Rivers, calls it ‘political manipulation’
