President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly for six months.
This decision was made to restore stability in the state, which has been experiencing political turmoil due to disagreements between the governor and state lawmakers.
Key Points of the Declaration:
- Suspension of Elected Officials: Governor Fubara, his deputy, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly are suspended for an initial period of six months.
- Appointment of Administrator: Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas has been appointed as the state’s administrator to oversee governance.
- Emergency Measure: The emergency declaration is necessary to restore peace, according to President Tinubu, who cited Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution.
- Judicial Arm Exempted: The declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which will continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate.
Source: Punch
