Tinubu declares state of emergency in Rivers, suspends Fubara, deputy, appoints sole administrator

• According to him, the declaration became imperative after months of political crisis and rising tension in the State.

President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State.

He made the declaration on Tuesday during a nationwide broadcast.

According to him, the declaration became imperative after months of political crisis and rising tension in the State.

He said all his efforts to find a lasting to the protracted crisis were rebuffed by all the parties involved.

According to him, with the declaration of state of emergency in the oil-rich State, the governor of the State Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, are hereby suspended for a period of six months.

All elected members of the State House of Assembly are also suspended.

The Judiciary in the state is not affected by the development as it will continue to function without any interruption and intervention.

As part of the directive, the President also appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) as the sole administrator to oversee the state’s affairs until normalcy is restored. Ibas served as Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Tinubu announced, “In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State, the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State has failed to make a request to me as President to issue this proclamation as required by section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, March 18, 2025 and I so do.

“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.

“In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette 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.”