UPDATED: Tinubu declares state of emergency in Rivers State

President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

The president made this declaration in his address to the nation on Tuesday.

President Tinubu invoked section 305 of the Constitution as ammended. He suspended Fubara Simileyin the governor and his deputy for a period of six months in a bid to restore peace.

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Tinubu said the ongoing crisis has been a major source of concern to him, especially as all his efforts to resolve has not yeileded any result.

Rivers state been bogged down in a political crisis stemming from the power struggle between Fubara and Nyesom Wike, his predecessor and minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

State Administrator appointed

The president announced the decision in a televised address on Tuesday, citing the prolonged political crisis in the oil-rich state and the failure of both the executive and legislative arms to resolve their differences. Tinubu also appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as the state’s administrator to oversee its affairs during the emergency period.

Political crisis worsens

Rivers State has been embroiled in a political crisis since October 2023, stemming from a rift between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The crisis escalated following the demolition of the State House of Assembly complex in December 2023, an action attributed to Fubara’s administration.

President Tinubu said he had personally intervened to resolve the conflict but was ignored. He also acknowledged the efforts of well-meaning Nigerians and patriotic groups, which, according to him, yielded no resolution.

“With the crisis persisting, there is no way democratic governance, which we have all fought and worked for over the years, can thrive in a way that will redound to the benefit of the good people of the state,” Tinubu said.

He referenced a recent Supreme Court judgment delivered on February 28, 2025, which ruled that the governor had engaged in unconstitutional acts by sidelining the legislative arm of the state government. The court, according to Tinubu, stated that Rivers State was effectively without a functioning government.

“In this case, the head of the executive arm of the government has chosen to collapse the legislature to enable him to govern without the legislature as a despot. As it is, there is no government in Rivers State,” Tinubu quoted the Supreme Court as saying.

Security concerns and failure to act

Tinubu also raised concerns over security issues in the state, particularly the activities of militants whom he accused of attacking oil pipelines while the governor failed to act.

“The latest security reports made available to me show that between yesterday and today, there have been disturbing incidents of vandalization of pipelines by some militants without the governor taking any action to curtail them,” Tinubu said.

Implementation of the Emergency Rule

Under the emergency rule, Vice Admiral Ibas (Rtd) will manage the state but will not have the power to make new laws. However, he will be allowed to formulate necessary regulations, subject to approval by the Federal Executive Council and the president.

“The Administrator will not make any new laws. He will, however, be free to formulate regulations as may be found necessary to do his job, but such regulations will need to be considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council and promulgated by the President for the state,” Tinubu clarified.

He assured that the judicial arm of the state would remain functional and that the emergency measure aimed to restore constitutional order.

Read also: Rivers Govt. will emerge stronger despite all odds, says Fubara

“This declaration has been published in the Federal Gazette, a copy of which has been forwarded to the National Assembly in accordance with the Constitution. It is my fervent hope that this inevitable intervention will help to restore peace and order in Rivers State,” the president said.