President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, March 19, officially swore 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 brief swearing-in ceremony took place at the State House in Abuja around 3:00 pm, attended by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and Presidential Principal Secretary Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
The Presidency confirmed the development in a post on X, stating, “Newly appointed Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (RTD), takes oath of office before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday.”
Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending 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.
In a national broadcast on Tuesday night, the President cited prolonged political instability, constitutional breaches, and security threats as the basis for the decision.
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“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 as amended,” Tinubu stated.
“It has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, March 18, 2025, and I so do.”
He further announced, “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 Ibokette 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.”
Ibas, who served as Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, is expected to oversee the state’s affairs until normalcy is restored.