Key Points

• Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended elected officials.
• The political battle between Wike and Fubara escalated, leading to violence and pipeline explosions.
• The federal government intervened, appointing Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator.

President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all elected state lawmakers for six months.

Tinubu made the announcement in a national broadcast on Tuesday night, citing rising violence, including explosions and pipeline vandalism.

He appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator to oversee the state’s affairs.

The president clarified that the judicial arm of the state remains functional despite the emergency declaration.

The decision follows ongoing political turmoil between Fubara and Nyesom Wike, a former governor and now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

Political tensions and violent clashes

The power struggle between Wike and Fubara has caused deep divisions within the Rivers State House of Assembly.

On Monday, 26 of the 32 lawmakers, aligned with Wike, filed a notice of gross misconduct against Fubara, initiating impeachment proceedings. This move further intensified the crisis, which had already split the assembly into factions.

An explosion at the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo Community on Monday night heightened tensions.

While Tinubu blamed political actors for the unrest, he specifically accused Governor Fubara of failing to restore order.

Federal intervention and constitutional debate

Tinubu invoked Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution, which allows the president to declare a state of emergency when a governor fails to act.

He justified his decision by stating that Fubara and his deputy did not formally request federal intervention, making it necessary for him to take control.

This suspension of elected officials marks a significant break from past precedent. Under former President Goodluck Jonathan, a similar state of emergency was declared in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa due to Boko Haram insurgency, but elected officials remained in office.

However, former President Olusegun Obasanjo removed officials during a 2006 state of emergency in Ekiti State.

The situation in Rivers remains volatile, and all eyes are on how Vice Admiral Ibas will manage the state during this critical period.