President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially sworn in Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd.) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State at the State House in Abuja. The ceremony took place just before 3 pm and was witnessed by key figures, including Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, Principal Private Secretary Hakeem Muri-Okunola, and Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga.
This appointment follows President Tinubu's declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday night, citing prolonged political instability, constitutional breaches, and security concerns as the reasons for the unprecedented measure. Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have been suspended for an initial six-month period.
In his national broadcast, President Tinubu stated that the decision was made after careful evaluation of the political situation in Rivers, particularly the ongoing power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Tinubu invoked Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to issue the proclamation, which he said was necessary to restore peace and stability in the state. As part of the directive, Vice Admiral Ibas, who served as the Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has been appointed to oversee the state's affairs until normalcy is restored.
The President reassured that the judicial arm of Rivers State would continue to function according to its constitutional mandate despite the suspension of the executive and legislative branches.
