By Peter Onyekachukwu 
***As Tinubu Officially Swore in Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the Sole Administrator
By Peter Onyekachukwu, ABUJA
The political tension in Rivers State escalated further as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu officially swore in retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator of the state, following his controversial declaration of a state of emergency.
The swearing-in ceremony, held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, was attended by top government officials, including the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi. This move has ignited a fierce national debate, with legal experts and opposition figures questioning its constitutionality.
Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency on Tuesday night led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial six-month period. The federal government justified the action as necessary to restore stability amid a deepening political crisis in the state.
However, critics view the intervention as an overreach of executive power. “This is a dangerous precedent. It undermines democracy and raises serious legal concerns,” said Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome. Opposition leaders argue that the suspension of elected officials without due process violates constitutional provisions and threatens Nigeria’s federal system.
By appointing Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff under President Muhammadu Buhari, as the administrator, Tinubu has bypassed democratic structures, fueling speculation that the decision is politically motivated. The move is seen as a fallout of the ongoing rift between Governor Fubara and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, his predecessor and political rival.
Civil society organizations and opposition parties are now calling for a judicial review of the emergency declaration, with some vowing to challenge it in court. “We will not sit back and watch democracy being trampled upon,” said the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum.
Meanwhile, reactions among Rivers residents remain divided. While some support the intervention, hoping it will restore order, others fear it is a step toward suppressing opposition voices in the state.
With legal battles looming, the political future of Rivers State remains uncertain, and the coming days may determine whether this crisis deepens or paves the way for a resolution.