On Thursday March 20, 2025 Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, along with the six month suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and all elected members of the assembly. Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced that both legislative chambers would form an ad hoc committee to oversee the administration of the state during the period, and a separate committee to mediate the political conflict while the emergency rule remains in effect.
The state of emergency declared in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025 is a significant and rare move aimed at addressing escalating political and security challenges in the oil-rich region. The declaration followed increasing tensions between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and various political factions, including former allies like Nyesom Wike, now the Federal Capital Territory Minister. This conflict reached a peak in late 2023, when the State House of Assembly was set on fire, allegedly by supporters of Governor Fubara to prevent his impeachment.
As a result of the rising instability, the Nigerian government took the extraordinary step of suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the state legislature for a period of six months. The action aims to restore order and governance, as the state has faced escalating issues with pipeline vandalism, militancy, and political violence. During the emergency rule, retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas has been appointed as the military administrator to oversee the state’s operations, signaling the seriousness of the crisis.
The state of emergency also reflects growing concerns about the broader security situation in the Niger Delta, where oil theft, vandalism of pipelines, and militant activities have severely impacted both local communities and Nigeria’s oil production. The intervention by the federal government is seen as a necessary step to stabilize the region, but it also raises questions about the balance between federal control and local political autonomy.
This action is a pivotal moment in Rivers State’s history, as it highlights the challenges of governance in resource-rich regions plagued by corruption, political rivalry, and insecurity. It also underscores the need for comprehensive solutions that go beyond military intervention to address the root causes of instability.
READ FULL SPEECH BELOW:
Text of the Broadcast by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, declaring State of Emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday 18 March 2025
Fellow Nigerians, I feel greatly disturbed at the turn we have come to regarding the political crisis in Rivers State. Like many of you, I have watched with concern the development with the hope that the parties involved would allow good sense to prevail at the soonest, but all that hope burned out without any solution to the crisis.
With the crisis persisting, there is no way democratic governance, which we have all fought and worked for over the years, can thrive in a way that will redound to the benefit of the good people of the state. The state has been at a standstill since the crisis started, with the good people of the state not being able to have access to the dividends of democracy.
Also, it is public knowledge that the Governor of Rivers State for unjustifiable reasons, demolished the House of Assembly of the state as far back as 13th December 2023 and has, up until now, fourteen (14) months after, not rebuilt same. I have made personal interventions between the contending parties for a peaceful resolution of the crisis, but my efforts have been largely ignored by the parties to the crisis. I am also aware that many well-meaning Nigerians, Leaders of thought and Patriotic groups have also intervened at various times with the best of intentions to resolve the matter, but all their efforts were also to no avail. Still, I thank them.
On February 28, 2025, the Supreme Court, in a judgment in respect of about eight consolidated appeals concerning the political crisis in Rivers State, based on several grave unconstitutional acts and disregard of rule of law that have been committed by the Governor of Rivers State as shown by the evidence before it pronounced in very clear terms:
“a government cannot be said to exist without one of the three arms that make up the government of a state under the 1999 Constitution as amended. In this case, the head of the executive arm of the government has chosen to collapse the legislature to enable him to govern without the legislature as a despot. As it is there is no government in Rivers State.”
The above pronouncement came after a catalogue of judicial findings of constitutional breaches against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Going Forward in their judgment, and having found and held that 27 members of the House who had allegedly defected “are still valid members of Rivers State House of Assembly and cannot be prevented from participating in the proceedings of that House by the 8th Respondent (that is, the Governor) in cohorts with four members”
The Supreme Court then made some orders to restore the state to immediate constitutional democracy. These orders include the immediate passing of an Appropriation Bill by the Rivers State House of Assembly which up till now has not been facilitated. Some militants had threatened fire and brimstone against their perceived enemy of the governor who has up till now NOT disowned them. Apart from that both the House and the governor have not been able to work together. Both of them do not realise that they are in office to work together for the peace and good governance of the state.
The latest security reports made available to me show that between yesterday and today there have been disturbing incidents of vandalization of pipelines by some militants without the governor taking any action to curtail them. I have, of course, given stern orders to the security agencies to ensure the safety of lives of the good people of Rivers State and the oil pipelines.
With all these and many more, no good and responsible President will stand by and allow the grave situation to continue without taking remedial steps prescribed by the Constitution to address the situation in the state, which no doubt requires extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order and security.
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 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 Administrator will not make any new laws. He will, however, be free to formulate regulations as may be found necessary to do his job, but such regulations will need to be considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council and promulgated by the President for the state.
This declaration has been published in the Federal Gazette, a copy of which has been forwarded to the National Assembly in accordance with the Constitution. It is my fervent hope that this inevitable intervention will help to restore peace and order in Rivers State by awakening all the contenders to the constitutional imperatives binding on all political players in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria as a whole.
Long live a united, peaceful, secure and democratic Rivers State in particular and the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a whole.
