President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) as the sole administrator of Rivers State, following his declaration of a state of emergency in the state on March 18, 2025.
The swearing-in ceremony was held at the State House in Abuja at approximately 03:00 pm.
The brief ceremony was attended by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and the Principal Secretary to the President, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
Ibas arrived at the Presidential Villa at about 12:48 pm (local time) before the ceremony.
A reminder that in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday night, President Tinubu declared the state of emergency in Rivers State, citing prolonged political instability, constitutional breaches, and security threats as the reasons behind the extraordinary measure.
Tinubu suspended the state’s 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.
The President explained, “In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State, the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State have failed to make a request to me as President to issue this proclamation as required by section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, 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, March 18, 2025 and I so do.”
As part of the declaration, Tinubu also appointed Vice Admiral Ibas to oversee the state’s affairs.
He stated, “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.”
However, the President clarified that the state’s judicial arm would remain unaffected by the emergency declaration, ensuring it continues to function according to its constitutional mandate.
