“Tinubu Imposes Emergency Rule in Rivers State Amid Political Turmoil and Pipeline Sabotage”

ABUJA – President Bola Tinubu has officially sworn in Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas (retd.) as the sole administrator of Rivers State. The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja and was attended by key government officials, including Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, Attorney General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and Presidential Principal Secretary Hakeem Muri-Okunola.

President Tinubu’s decision to appoint a sole administrator follows his declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. This declaration led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

The political crisis in Rivers State has been escalating for months, exacerbated by a power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This conflict has caused divisions within the state government, including the defection of 27 lawmakers from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), further destabilizing governance in the oil-rich state.

In a national broadcast on Tuesday, Tinubu cited prolonged political instability, constitutional breaches, and security threats as justification for this extraordinary measure, invoking Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution.

**Who is Ibok Ibas?**
Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) is a former Chief of Naval Staff who served from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari. His appointment is viewed as an effort to restore order and stability in Rivers State. Tinubu emphasized that Ibas’s role is temporary and aimed at ensuring that governance continues without interruption.

However, this decision has sparked mixed reactions across the country. Critics argue that the suspension of elected officials is unconstitutional and represents an assault on democracy. Former Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi and several other political figures have urged the National Assembly, governors, and stakeholders to reject what they characterize as an illegality.

The situation remains tense as Nigerians await further legislative action from the House of Representatives and Senate, which have yet to deliberate on the President’s proclamation.