A member representing Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency in Rivers State at the House of Representatives, Awaji-Inombek Abiante has asked President Bola Tinubu to restore Governor Siminalayi Fubara before the expiration of the six-month emergency rule period.
Abiante also called on the president to engage the National Peace Committee headed by former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, to mediate with the warring parties in the oil-rich state and find a common ground for peace.
Tinubu, in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, imposed a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspended Fubara and his deputy Ngozi Odu; as well as the Rivers State House of Assembly members for six months. Tinubu also appointed ex-naval chief, Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (rtd.), as sole administrator for the state for the period of the emergency rule.
Tinubu hinged his decision on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, saying he can’t continue to watch the political situation in Rivers escalate without taking any action. His decision was backed by the National Assembly in a controversial voice vote that has been heavily faulted.
The suspension of Fubara and other democratically elected representatives has been expressly rejected and condemned by many eminent Nigerians, legal luminaries, and groups including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Femi Falana, the Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Nigerian Bar Association, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), among others.
