Just In: President Tinubu declares a state of emergency in Rivers State
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State.
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In a Nationwide broadcast delivered this evening 18th March 2025, on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), President Tinubu suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy Governor Mrs Ngozi Odu, and House of Assembly members for six months.
This comes after the recent happenings in Rivers state. There has been a serious power tussle between the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and the Former Governor, Nyesom Wike (now FCT minister).
Recall that a group of Ijaw women staged a protest in Asari Toru Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State, blocking a major road on Saturday, March 15th, 2025, to prevent Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), from attending an event organized in his honour.
The demonstration comes amid an ongoing power struggle between Fubara and Wike over political control in the state.
President Tinubu in his words said, “In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State and the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State having 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.
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, 18th March, 2025.”
In the meantime, The President appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State.
Similarly, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate.
