A dramatic escalation in the political turmoil gripping Rivers State has unfolded, as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu deployed armed security forces, including the Nigerian Army, to the Rivers State Government House.
This move follows his declaration of a state of emergency and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
A video obtained by SaharaReporters on Monday evening captured several military vans filled with armed operatives heading toward the Government House in Port Harcourt.
The deployment came just hours after Tinubu’s nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, where he cited political instability and security concerns as the justification for his intervention.
In his address, President Tinubu invoked Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution, announcing an immediate six-month suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
He stated that after evaluating the political situation in Rivers State, it had become necessary to take decisive action to restore order.
To oversee governance in the state, the President appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as the new Administrator.
However, Tinubu clarified that Ibas would not have legislative powers but would focus solely on restoring stability.
The crisis stems from an intensifying power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Tensions between the two political heavyweights escalated shortly after Fubara took office in May 2023. Allegations surfaced that Wike was attempting to maintain control over the state’s political affairs from Abuja—a move Fubara resisted.
The rift widened in December 2023 when 27 lawmakers, loyal to Wike, defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defection granted Wike’s camp a legislative advantage, fueling an impeachment attempt against Fubara.
The conflict reached a boiling point in October 2023 when the Rivers State House of Assembly complex was set ablaze during violent clashes between rival factions.
The Supreme Court’s ruling on February 28, 2025, further complicated the crisis. The judgment, seen by some political analysts as exceeding its intended scope, was criticized by the PDP for allegedly legitimizing the lawmakers’ defection. This ruling provided the backdrop for the federal government’s intervention.
Tinubu’s decision to suspend the elected leadership of Rivers State has drawn sharp criticism. Opposition leaders and civil society groups have condemned the move, calling it an attack on democracy.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and PDP National Chairman Umar Damagum have accused the federal government of overreach.
Damagum described the decision as an executive coup against a democratically elected governor.
Protests have erupted in parts of Port Harcourt, with Fubara’s supporters vowing to resist the takeover. Security forces remain on high alert as tensions continue to rise.
As the political landscape in Rivers State shifts dramatically, all eyes are on how Governor Fubara and his allies will respond.
Will the federal government’s intervention stabilize the state, or will it ignite further unrest? For now, Rivers State remains on edge, with a military presence enforcing the new political order.
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