If everything goes according to plan, the suspended governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, and the 32-member House of Assembly will return to office on September 18. Reports of Fubara’s return broke last week after a closed-door meeting between President Tinubu and the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd), in the Presidential Villa resulted in Ibas being given a matching order to submit a comprehensive handover note of his six-month emergency rule before his 10-day vacation ends.
Recall that Tinubu had, on March 18, proclaimed an emergency rule in Rivers and suspended the state governor, his deputy and the Assembly for six months to ease the political tension between Fubara and Nyesom Wike.
BAT’s action was meant to tackle escalating political and security challenges in the oil-rich region following increasing discord between Fubara and several political factions.
“The state has been at a standstill since the crisis started, with the good people of the state not being able to have access to the dividends of democracy,” he declared.
The President then appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd) as the Sole Administrator to run the affairs of the state for six months while Fubara and the lawmakers serve their suspension.
According to sources, ahead of the handover back to Gov. Fubara, Ibas is expected to break down all the funds he inherited from the suspended Governor and revenues accrued within the six months of the emergency rule.
“As well as expenditures during his stewardship and the various projects the funds were channeled into within the period under review, with clear specifications,” the source said.
President Tinubu might make a formal pronouncement to lift the emergency rule on September 18.
Sources confirmed that as a condition for reinstatement, Fubara agreed not to seek re-election in 2027.
“He is expected to serve out his current term and vacate office without rocking the boat,” the source continued.
Reports have said that Fubara also consented to letting Wike nominate candidates for all local government elections under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across the state. The nominees are to be elected without internal opposition in the election set to happen before the end of October.
“On his return, the suspended governor will also pay all outstanding allowances and entitlements of the 27 lawmakers loyal to the FCT Minister, who were suspended from the state assembly. In exchange, the lawmakers will cooperate and work peacefully with the governor to enable him to complete his tenure.”
While declaring the emergency rule, Tinubu said, “With all these and many more, no good and responsible President will stand by and allow the grave situation to continue without taking remedial steps prescribed by the Constitution to address the situation in the state, which no doubt requires extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order and security.
In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State, it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, 18th March 2025 and I so do.
By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months.
In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State.”
