President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally sworn in Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) as the sole administrator of Rivers State, following the declaration of a state of emergency in the oil-rich state.
The brief swearing-in ceremony took place at 3:00 PM at the State House, Abuja, in the presence of:
Femi Gbajabiamila – Chief of Staff to the President
Lateef Fagbemi, SAN – Attorney General of the Federation
Hakeem Muri-Okunola – Principal Secretary to the President
Political Crisis and Emergency Rule in Rivers State
The state of emergency, declared late Tuesday night, led to the suspension of:
Governor Siminalayi Fubara
Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu
All elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly
In his nationwide broadcast, Tinubu justified the decision, citing:
✅ Prolonged political instability
✅ Constitutional breaches
✅ Security threats and economic sabotage
The crisis in Rivers stems from a power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor-turned-political adversary, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Ibas Takes Over Rivers State Governance
By appointing Vice Admiral Ibas to oversee Rivers State, Tinubu has handed the administration of the state to a former military officer with a background in security and governance.
Ibas, who served as Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, now assumes full control of Rivers State for an initial six-month period.
Constitutional Debate and Political Reactions
The emergency rule declaration has sparked intense debate, with legal and political analysts questioning the constitutionality of suspending an elected governor and legislature.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly condemned the move, stating that Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) does not grant the President the power to remove an elected governor or dissolve a legislature under emergency rule.
Opposition parties and civil society groups have described Tinubu’s action as a dangerous precedent and an assault on Nigeria’s democracy.
The Senate has also postponed deliberations on the emergency rule, further complicating the political standoff.
What Next for Rivers State?
With military forces deployed to Government House in Port Harcourt and political uncertainty looming, all eyes are now on:
1️⃣ The judiciary – Will the courts overturn the emergency rule and reinstate Governor Fubara?
2️⃣ The National Assembly – Will lawmakers approve or reject Tinubu’s proclamation?
3️⃣ Public response – How will Rivers residents react to this dramatic political intervention?
For now, Vice Admiral Ibas takes charge in Rivers, navigating a highly volatile political and security environment.
