President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) as the sole administrator of Rivers State, following the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the State House, Abuja, at 3:00 p.m., in the presence of the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and the Principal Secretary to the President, Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
Recall that President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday night, citing political instability, constitutional breaches, and security threats. In a national broadcast, he explained that the crisis—rooted in a power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory—had paralyzed governance in the oil-rich state.
“As the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State failed to request my intervention under Section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution, it has become necessary for me to invoke Section 305 to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, effective March 18, 2025,” Tinubu stated.
He assured that judicial functions in the state would remain unaffected.
Federal Government to Release Withheld Rivers State Funds
Meanwhile, Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) has confirmed that the Federal Government is ready to release Rivers State’s withheld allocation to the newly appointed Sole Administrator.
Speaking at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Fagbemi stated that funds from the Federation Account would be made available upon the administrator’s request.
“It will be in order for the release of that fund, as the extraordinary situation has moved them beyond the normal course of events,” he said.
Fagbemi also defended Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency, arguing that democratic governance in Rivers State had been at a standstill due to the ongoing crisis.
President Tinubu accused Governor Fubara of demolishing the Rivers State House of Assembly, calling it an unjustifiable act that crippled the legislative arm of government. He also cited a February 28, 2025, Supreme Court ruling, which highlighted constitutional violations by Fubara.
The President further alleged that Governor Fubara failed to disown militants who had threatened to attack oil pipelines in the state, further escalating tensions.