President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the House of Assembly for an initial period of six months. The announcement was made on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, citing prolonged political instability and security concerns in the state.
Tinubu expressed deep concern over the ongoing crisis, stating, “I have watched with concern the development with the hope that the parties involved would allow good sense to prevail at the soonest, but all that hope burned out without any solution to the crisis.” He emphasized that the crisis has paralyzed governance and denied the people of Rivers State the benefits of democracy.
The President referenced a Supreme Court ruling from February 28, 2025, which criticized the governor’s actions, stating, “a government cannot be said to exist without one of the three arms that make up the government of a state under the 1999 Constitution as amended.” The court further held that 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who had allegedly defected “are still valid members of Rivers State House of Assembly and cannot be prevented from participating in the proceedings of that House by the 8th Respondent (that is, the Governor) in cohorts with four members.”
Tinubu cited the failure of the governor to implement the court’s directives, including the passage of an Appropriation Bill, and the recent acts of vandalism by militants who, according to him, had not been disowned by Fubara. He stated that security agencies had been ordered to ensure the safety of lives and critical infrastructure.
To oversee the state’s affairs during the emergency period, Tinubu appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as the Administrator. The President clarified that “the Administrator will not make any new laws” but would formulate necessary regulations, subject to approval by the Federal Executive Council. The judiciary will continue to function as usual.
The declaration has been published in the Federal Gazette and submitted to the National Assembly, with Tinubu expressing hope that this intervention will restore peace and constitutional order in Rivers State.
