In a sweeping federal move, President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, effectively suspending its elected Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all elected lawmakers of the State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

The Presidency cited the growing political crisis, including recent explosions, vandalisation of petroleum pipelines, and widespread violence, as the basis for the directive which took immediate effect on Tuesday, March 18.

“I feel greatly disturbed by the political crisis in Rivers. The state has been at a standstill, and the people have been deprived of good governance,” the President said in a national broadcast on Tuesday night.

“No responsible President will stand by without taking action. To restore good governance and peace in this circumstance, it has become imperative to declare a state of emergency. By this declaration, Governor Fubara is hereby suspended,’’ he added.

Alongside Fubara’s suspension, Tinubu appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Administrator to oversee the state’s affairs in the interest of the citizens.

“In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State,” he said.

While there is a total clampdown on the state’s executive branch, the President clarified that the judicial arm remains unaffected and “shall continue to function in accordance with its constitutional mandate.”

Prior to the President’s decision, 26 lawmakers in the state had served Governor Fubara with a notice of gross misconduct and had begun the process of impeaching him and his deputy.

Watch President Tinubu’s full national broadcast here: