State of Emergency: Oppositions, Lawyers Take Stand as Tension Envelopes Rivers
The declaration of the State of Emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu has triggered palpable tension in the state.
The Press Nigeria reports that President Tinubu on Tuesday during a nationwide broadcast, declared a State of Emergency in Rivers, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all the members of the House of Assembly for six months over the protracted political crisis rocking the state.
The president consequently nominated Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state for the first six months.
The Press Nigeria reports that Rivers State was plunged into political chaos in 2024 when Governor Fubara fell out with his estranged political godfather and predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
Efforts by President Tinubu and other political bigwigs to broker peace between the duo and their loyalists failed as about 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Wike joined the fight.
The lawmakers, whose seats were declared vacant following their purported defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, were, however, reinstated by a recent ruling of the Supreme Court.
The Press Nigeria reports that since their reinstatement on February 28, there have been a series of verbal clashes between the governor and the 27 lawmakers led by the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule.
The governor earlier cried out alleging that the Assembly members were frustrating his efforts to implement the judgement of the apex court but the lawmakers dismissed the claim.
Impeachment notice
The apprehension gripping Rivers State began on Monday when the Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly initiated an impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy.
The lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Wike, served Fubara and Prof Odu with a notice of alleged gross misconduct, signaling an imminent impeachment process.
The notice listing the alleged misconduct sent to the Speaker was a sequel to a letter dated March 14, 2025 and signed by 26 members of the Assembly.
The Speaker, Amaewhule, sent the notice in two separate letters he signed on Monday, March 17, 2025 and addressed to the governor and his deputy.
