By Solomon OKPO.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing prolonged political instability, constitutional breaches, and security concerns.
In a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, the President lamented the persistent crisis in the state, noting that all efforts—both personal and by well-meaning Nigerians—to mediate a resolution had been ignored. He highlighted the collapse of legislative governance following the demolition of the state House of Assembly in December 2023 and the subsequent failure to rebuild it.
The Supreme Court, in a landmark judgment on February 28, 2025, had ruled that the Governor’s actions amounted to the dissolution of the legislative arm, thereby rendering the state government non-functional. Despite court orders to restore constitutional governance, the crisis deepened, with increasing security threats, including pipeline vandalism by militants allegedly linked to the Governor.
To restore order, Tinubu invoked Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the House of Assembly for an initial six-month.
