• Opposition parties reject move, accuse president of political manipulation
'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
Jane Otu, South South
DAILY COURIER - President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly for an initial period of six months. The President cited a prolonged political crisis, constitutional breaches, and escalating security threats as reasons for the extraordinary measure.
In a national broadcast on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, Tinubu stated that the crisis in Rivers State had paralyzed governance, making it impossible for democratic institutions to function effectively. “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,” he said.
The President pointed to the demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly in December 2023 and the governor’s refusal to rebuild it as a critical factor in the breakdown of governance. He also referenced a recent Supreme Court ruling that described the situation in Rivers as unconstitutional, stating that “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.”
Citing security concerns, Tinubu accused militants of vandalizing oil pipelines and issuing threats against perceived enemies of the governor. “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,” he revealed.
To restore order, Tinubu appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as the Administrator of Rivers State, with a mandate to oversee governance without enacting new laws. “For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with its constitutional mandate,” he clarified.
### **Atiku, PDP Reject Emergency Rule**
The announcement has sparked a wave of political backlash, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) strongly condemning the move. Atiku, in a statement posted on his X account, described the declaration as “political manipulation and outright bad faith.”
“Anyone paying attention to the unfolding crisis knows that Bola Tinubu has been a vested partisan actor in the political turmoil engulfing Rivers. His blatant refusal or calculated negligence in preventing this escalation is nothing short of disgraceful,” Atiku asserted.
He further accused Tinubu’s administration of enabling or failing to prevent the security breakdown in the Niger Delta, warning that “years of progress have been recklessly erased in pursuit of selfish political calculations.”
The PDP also rejected the declaration, calling it a direct assault on democracy. In a press statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the party argued that Tinubu lacked the constitutional authority to suspend an elected governor.
“The unconstitutional declaration by President Tinubu of the suspension of the democratically elected Governor of Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and appointment of an unelected individual, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd), to govern the state is a clear attack on our nation’s democracy,” the statement read.
The PDP accused the APC-led federal government of orchestrating a crisis to justify an emergency rule, warning that “this unwarranted imposition of emergency rule in Rivers State is part of a larger vicious plot to foist a siege mentality across Nigeria, decimate opposition, and impose a totalitarian one-party state.”
The party called on the National Assembly to reject the proclamation, arguing that Section 305 of the Constitution does not grant the President the unilateral power to impose emergency rule without legislative approval.
### **APC Backs Tinubu’s Decision**
In contrast, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) defended Tinubu’s action, blaming Governor Fubara for the crisis. In a statement signed by APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the party insisted that the governor had effectively dismantled the government structure in Rivers State.
“When he brazenly demolished the Rivers State House of Assembly, Fubara destroyed the very foundation of democracy in the state. When he ‘governed’ the state without a legislature, Fubara ended government in the state,” the statement read.
The APC justified the state of emergency as a necessary step to prevent further chaos, stating that “President Tinubu has demonstrated courage and leadership in forestalling a looming breakdown of law and order in the state.”
With the emergency rule now in effect, political tensions are expected to escalate, as opposition parties and civil society groups weigh legal and political responses to what they describe as an unconstitutional power grab.
