President Bola Tinubu has officially sworn in Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) as the sole administrator of Rivers State following the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the State House in Abuja at about 3:00 pm on Wednesday, with key government officials, including 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, in attendance.
Ibas, who served as Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, arrived at the Presidential Villa at approximately 12:48 pm before taking the oath of office.
His appointment follows Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday night, which led to the suspension of 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.
Explaining the decision in a nationwide broadcast, Tinubu cited prolonged political instability, constitutional breaches, and security concerns as the primary reasons for invoking emergency powers under Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State, and given that 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, it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of Section 305 to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, March 18, 2025, and I so do,” Tinubu stated.
He added, “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 Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) as 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 their constitutional mandate.”
