President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially sworn in Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd.) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State following the declaration of a state of emergency in the oil-rich state.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the State House in Abuja, a few minutes before 3 p.m., and was attended by top government officials, including Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi, Principal Private Secretary Hakeem Muri-Okunola, and Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga.
The appointment comes a day after President Tinubu suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state’s House of Assembly for an initial period of six months. In a national broadcast, the president cited prolonged political instability, constitutional breaches, and security threats as justification for the drastic measure.
“The Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State have failed to make a request for this proclamation as required by the Constitution. Therefore, I have found it necessary to invoke Section 305 of the Constitution to declare a state of emergency with immediate effect,” Tinubu said.
He assured that the state’s judiciary would remain functional, adding that Vice Admiral Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff (2015-2021), would oversee state affairs until stability is restored.
The political crisis in Rivers State stems from a prolonged power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The move to impose emergency rule signals the federal government’s intent to restore order and governance in the state.
