President Bola Tinubu has officially sworn in Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) as the sole administrator of Rivers State.
The brief swearing-in ceremony took place at about 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the State House, Abuja.
It was attended by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); and the Principal Secretary to the President, Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
Ibas, who arrived at the Presidential Villa around 12:48 p.m., was appointed to oversee the state’s affairs following the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday night.
In a national broadcast, Tinubu suspended 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, citing prolonged political instability, constitutional breaches, and security threats as justification for the drastic measure.
The crisis, which has crippled governance in the oil-rich state, stems from an intense power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who now serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
To restore order, Tinubu appointed Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff (2015–2021) under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, to administer the state temporarily.
“In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State, and noting that the governor and deputy governor have failed to request my intervention as required by Section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke Section 305 of the Constitution to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, with effect from today, March 18, 2025,” Tinubu announced.
“By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs. Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months.
“In the meantime, I hereby appoint Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) as the administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State. For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with its constitutional mandate.”
