BREAKING: Tinubu declares State of Emergency in Rivers, suspends Governor Fubara, Deputy for six months

March 18, 2025

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 six months.

This decision was made to restore stability in the state, which has been plagued by political turmoil due to disagreements between the Governor and state lawmakers.

In a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, Tinubu stated, “By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs. Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months.”

The President has appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas as the state’s administrator to oversee governance. “In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd.) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State,”Tinubu said.

Citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, Tinubu emphasized that the emergency measure was necessary to restore peace.

The proclamation has been published in the Federal Gazette and forwarded to the National Assembly.

Tinubu expressed his hope that this intervention would help restore peace and order in Rivers State, saying, “It is my fervent hope that this inevitable intervention will help to restore peace and order in Rivers State by awakening all the contenders to the constitutional imperatives binding on all political players in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria as a whole.”