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 state House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
In a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, Tinubu cited the prolonged political crisis in the state, the governor’s failure to restore the legislative arm after demolishing the House of Assembly building in December 2023, and rising security concerns, including militant activities and pipeline vandalism.
The President stated that efforts by his administration and other stakeholders to mediate in the crisis had been ignored, leaving no choice but to invoke Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to restore order.
He referenced the February 28, 2025, Supreme Court judgment, which ruled that the state’s legislature had been unlawfully collapsed, rendering the government unconstitutional. The court also upheld the legitimacy of the 27 lawmakers who were previously declared defectors and ruled that they must be allowed to function.
Tinubu further accused Governor Fubara of failing to facilitate the passage of an appropriation bill as directed by the Supreme Court and of not taking decisive action against militants threatening the state’s security.
In the interim, Tinubu has appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator of Rivers State. The judiciary, he clarified, would continue functioning as usual.
“This inevitable intervention is aimed at restoring peace and order in Rivers State and ensuring that all political actors uphold constitutional governance,” Tinubu stated.
The proclamation has been published in the Federal Gazette and forwarded to the National Assembly for approval.
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