President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State due to the ongoing political crisis that has plagued the oil-rich state since September 2023. In a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, the president announced the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
To manage the state during the emergency rule, Tinubu appointed retired Admiral Ibokette Ibas, the former Chief of Naval Staff, as the administrator.
Under Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, the president is empowered to declare a state of emergency in specific situations. This declaration must be published in the government gazette and transmitted to the National Assembly for approval. For the declaration to stand, a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly must validate the action, ensuring checks and balances in the exercise of executive power.
This marks the fourth time since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 that a sitting president has declared a state of emergency in a state. The previous instances include:
- Plateau State (2004): President Olusegun Obasanjo declared a state of emergency in May 2004 following violent ethno-religious clashes that led to widespread killings. The governor and state assembly were suspended, and Major General Chris Alli was appointed as the administrator to restore order.
- Ekiti State (2006): In October 2006, President Obasanjo imposed emergency rule after a leadership crisis arose from the controversial impeachment of Governor Ayo Fayose. Brigadier General Adetunji Olurin was appointed as the administrator until stability was restored.
- Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States (2013): Amid the rising Boko Haram insurgency, President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in May 2013 across these states. In this case, the federal government deployed additional troops and imposed curfews rather than suspending the governors and state assemblies.
Tinubu’s decision to impose emergency rule in Rivers comes at a time of significant political instability and reflects the government’s effort to bring the state under control and restore normalcy.
