President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, citing prolonged political instability, constitutional violations, and security threats.
The president announced the appointment of Retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as state administrator while the judiciary remains unaffected and will continue to function.
In a national broadcast on Tuesday, Tinubu said the crisis had paralyzed governance, denying residents the benefits of democracy. He accused Fubara of demolishing the Rivers State House of Assembly in December 2023 and failing to rebuild it, effectively crippling the legislative arm.
The President referenced a Supreme Court ruling on February 28, which stated that Rivers had no functional government due to the collapse of the legislature. He also cited intelligence reports of militant activities and pipeline vandalization, with no action from the state government to address the situation.
As part of emergency measures, Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all state lawmakers have been suspended for six months.
Tinubu said the intervention aims to restore peace, stability, and constitutional order, adding that the declaration has been gazetted and sent to the National Assembly for approval, as required by the 1999 Constitution.
