Abuja – In a decisive move to address the prolonged political crisis in Rivers State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a state of emergency, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
In a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, President Tinubu expressed deep concern over the worsening political situation in Rivers State, citing the failure of both the executive and legislative arms to function harmoniously. He noted that the state has been at a standstill, depriving its residents of democratic dividends.
The President emphasized that despite multiple interventions by well-meaning Nigerians and personal efforts on his part, all attempts to resolve the crisis amicably had failed. He also referenced the Supreme Court ruling of February 28, 2025, which found that the state government had breached constitutional provisions, rendering governance ineffective.
One of the major points of contention was the demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex on December 13, 2023, an act the President described as unjustifiable. More than 14 months later, the structure had not been rebuilt, leaving the legislative arm of the state government effectively non-functional.
Furthermore, security reports presented to the President indicated an escalation of threats, including acts of pipeline vandalism by militants, which the governor allegedly failed to address. President Tinubu stated that these developments, coupled with the inability of the governor and the legislature to work together, had necessitated an extraordinary intervention as prescribed by the Nigerian Constitution.
“In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State, and the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State having 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,” Tinubu declared.
To oversee the administration of the state during this period, President Tinubu appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as the Administrator of Rivers State. He clarified that the judicial arm of the state remains unaffected and will continue to function normally.
The President assured that the Administrator would not enact new laws but would be authorized to formulate necessary regulations, subject to approval by the Federal Executive Council. The declaration has been officially published in the Federal Gazette and forwarded to the National Assembly as required by the Constitution.
President Tinubu expressed hope that this intervention would restore peace, order, and good governance in Rivers State. He reiterated his commitment to upholding democracy, calling on all political actors in Rivers and across Nigeria to respect constitutional principles.
