Political tension is mounting in Rivers State as activists and political observers express concern that the current state of emergency, declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 18, 2025, could last beyond the initial six-month period.
Background
President Tinubu declared the emergency in response to a political crisis involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who was accused of demolishing the State House of Assembly building. The President suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy, and all elected members of the House of Assembly, appointing Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) as Sole Administrator to oversee the state’s affairs.
Since then, Ibas has made sweeping changes, including appointing administrators for all 23 Local Government Areas, suspending elected council chairmen, dissolving the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), and appointing new members allegedly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Concerns and Criticisms
Activists argue that Rivers State was largely peaceful before the emergency rule and accuse the President of being misled by political interests. Notably, Niger Delta activist Ann-Kio Briggs criticized Ibas for removing constitutionally elected officials and escalating the crisis rather than resolving it.
Former PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, warned that the Sole Administrator’s actions have set the state “on a keg of gunpowder” and urged the President to restore Governor Fubara, who holds the people’s mandate.
Political Fallout
There are growing fears that the emergency rule could be extended. APC chieftain Chizy Enyi pointed to the President’s recent submission of the state’s N1.481 trillion budget to the National Assembly as evidence that a return to democratic rule is not imminent. He also noted that major development projects have stalled, with contractors leaving sites due to the political uncertainty.
APC spokesperson Darlington Nwauju echoed these concerns, suggesting that the body language and actions of the Sole Administrator indicate a desire to prolong emergency rule. He argued that the underlying political disputes particularly the rivalry between Governor Fubara and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike have not been resolved, and that peace has yet to be restored.
Observers warn that unless the political actors prioritize the interests of the people over personal and elite rivalries, Rivers State could remain under emergency rule beyond the initial six months, with further negative implications for democracy and development in the state.