President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the State House of Assembly for an initial six months.
In a national broadcast on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, Tinubu said the move followed months of political crisis, constitutional violations, and failure of leadership in the state.
He cited the demolition of the Assembly complex, disobedience to Supreme Court rulings, and rising security threats, including pipeline vandalism allegedly backed by pro-government militants.
Retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas has been appointed as the State Administrator. The judiciary remains unaffected.
Tinubu said the intervention aims to restore order, peace, and democratic governance in Rivers State.
