President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state’s House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
The president announced the decision in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, citing the ongoing political crisis in the state.
He stated, “…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, and I so do.
“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.
“In the meantime, I hereby nominate 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. For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate.”
The suspension comes amid a prolonged political crisis in Rivers State, with tensions escalating between Governor Fubara and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.