President Bola Tinubu took decisive action yesterday to address the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State by declaring a state of emergency. 


In a 1003-word nationwide broadcast, the President announced the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, and the members of the State House of Assembly for six months. He has appointed former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd), as the state administrator, pending confirmation from the National Assembly.


Vanguard had previously reported that a neutral individual might be appointed to oversee the state to help resolve the protracted issue. With this declaration, Rivers State has joined the ranks of six states, Plateau, Ekiti, Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa that have experienced a state of emergency since the return of democracy in 1999. Furthermore, Rivers becomes the third state, alongside Plateau and Ekiti, to have its governor, deputy, and legislators suspended during such a period; in contrast, the governors of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa remained in office during their respective emergencies. 


In his announcement, Tinubu expressed his deep concern over the ongoing political turmoil: “Fellow Nigerians, I feel greatly disturbed at the turn we have come to regarding the political crisis in Rivers State. Like many of you, I have watched with concern the developments, hoping the involved parties would reach a resolution, but that hope has now faded without any solution forthcoming.”


He further elaborated, “The state has been at a standstill since the crisis began, depriving the good people of Rivers of the benefits of democracy.” The President condemned the governor for the demolition of the House of Assembly back in December 2023, a structure that remains unrepaired fourteen months later.


Tinubu shared that he had personally intervened in the crisis and that many well-meaning Nigerians and leaders had attempted to mediate, but those efforts had been largely ignored. He expressed gratitude for their attempts, nonetheless.


On February 28, 2025, the Supreme Court ruled on several consolidated appeals concerning the political turmoil in Rivers State. Their judgment highlighted significant unconstitutional actions and a disregard for the rule of law by the governor, stating, “A government cannot be said to exist without one of the three arms that constitute a state government, according to the 1999 Constitution.”


The court pointed out that the executive had undermined the legislative arm, effectively reducing governance to despotism. It also confirmed that 27 members of the House, who had allegedly defected, remained valid members and should be allowed to participate in House proceedings.


The justices ordered an immediate restoration of constitutional democracy, including the urgent passage of an Appropriation Bill by the House, which has not been addressed to this day. Reports indicated that militants threatened violence against perceived enemies of the governor, who has not disavowed them, further exacerbating the impasse between the House and the governor.


Latest security reports reveal recent vandalism of pipelines by militants, with no response from the governor to mitigate these issues. In light of these circumstances, Tinubu instructed security agencies to ensure the safety of the people of Rivers State and protect oil infrastructure.


With all these factors at play, it has become clear that no responsible leader can stand by while the situation deteriorates further. The President is committed to taking constitutional measures to restore good governance, peace, order, and security in Rivers State.