Tinubu Gazettes State of Emergency in Rivers State Amid National Outrage

President Bola Tinubu has officially gazetted a state of emergency in Rivers State, sparking widespread outrage and condemnation across the nation. The proclamation, titled “State of Emergency (Rivers State) Proclamation, 2025,” was released on March 27, 2025. According to the gazette, Tinubu invoked Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, along with other constitutional powers, to justify the drastic measure aimed at restoring good governance, peace, security, and order in the troubled state.

The document details the imminent threat to public order and safety in Rivers State, citing a clear danger of an unchecked crisis that could lead to extensive loss of lives and property. To address this, the proclamation suspends the offices of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and all members of the State House of Assembly, while naming Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) as the state administrator. Ibas will manage the state based on regulations issued by the President as needed during the emergency.

The decision, which also included a six-month suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other elected officials, was ratified by both the Nigerian Senate and the House of Representatives on March 20, 2025. However, the move has drawn severe criticism from various political groups, including Afenifere and the Pan Niger Delta Forum, as well as from national and international bodies and elder statesmen. Critics argue that Tinubu’s decision undermines the democratic process by displacing elected leadership with a military-appointed administrator. Groups like the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) have called for the immediate resignation of the so-called “illegal administrator” and urged the people of Rivers State to reject any attempt to usurp their democratic rights.