Barely 24 hours after declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State, President Bola Tinubu has met with Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.), the newly appointed sole administrator tasked with overseeing the state’s affairs.
Ibas arrived at the Presidential Villa forecourt at approximately 12:48 PM (local time) for the crucial meeting.
On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, Tinubu announced the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
In a national address, the President cited prolonged political instability, constitutional violations, and security concerns as justification for the unprecedented action.
The crisis in Rivers State has been fueled by an intense power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who now serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
As part of the intervention, Tinubu appointed Ibas to take charge of the state’s governance until stability is restored.
“In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State, the governor and deputy governor of Rivers State have failed to make a request to me as President to issue this proclamation as required by Section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended,” Tinubu stated.
“It has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of Section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, March 18, 2025, and I so do.”
The President further emphasized:
“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.”
He also reassured the public that the judicial arm of government remains unaffected:
“For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with its constitutional mandate.”
Ibas, who previously served as Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, now faces the critical task of restoring governance in the oil-rich state amid heightened political tensions.