By PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing prolonged political instability and threats to governance.
As part of the emergency measures, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have been suspended for an initial period of six months.
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In a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, President Tinubu expressed deep concern over the crisis that has paralysed the state’s governance for over a year.
“Like many of you, I have watched with concern the developments, hoping that the parties involved would allow good sense to prevail. But all that hope burned out without any solution to the crisis,” he stated.
The political turmoil in Rivers State has been marked by a breakdown in governance, exacerbated by the demolition of the State House of Assembly in December 2023.
Despite judicial interventions and mediation efforts, the crisis remained unresolved. The Supreme Court, in a ruling on 28 February 2025, described the situation as a “collapse of the legislature,” effectively rendering governance in Rivers State unconstitutional.
The President lamented that despite multiple peace efforts, including interventions by well-meaning Nigerians, both the governor and the legislature had failed to reconcile.
The continued absence of a functioning legislative arm and recent security concerns, including pipeline vandalism by militants, further justified the emergency declaration.
“No good and responsible President will stand by and allow the grave situation to continue without taking remedial steps,” Tinubu affirmed.
To restore order, President Tinubu has appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as the Administrator of Rivers State.
He clarified that while Ibas would oversee the state’s affairs, the judiciary would remain unaffected.
“The Administrator will not make any new laws but will be free to formulate necessary regulations, subject to approval by the Federal Executive Council and promulgation by the President,” he explained.
The President assured Nigerians that the emergency measures aim to stabilise Rivers State and reinstate constitutional governance.
A copy of the declaration has been forwarded to the National Assembly for formal endorsement, in line with constitutional requirements.
“It is my fervent hope that this inevitable intervention will help restore peace and order in Rivers State by awakening all contenders to the constitutional imperatives binding on all political players,” he concluded.
The emergency declaration has sparked mixed reactions, with some viewing it as a necessary intervention, while others question its implications for democracy in Nigeria.
The coming months will determine whether the move successfully restores governance in Rivers State.
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