Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara don call for calm following di declaration of a state of emergency for di state by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and announcement of im suspension and dat of im deputy governor, State Assembly members and all elected officers.

President Tinubu also announce Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas Rtd as di sole Administrator for di state for an initial six months.

For statement wey e sign imsef, Governor Fubara maintain say since e assume office as governor, all im actions and decisions dey guided by im constitutional oath of office and a great sense of duty.

E say e prioritize di protection of lives and property and ensure continuous progress of di State.

"Even in di face of di political impasse, we still remain committed to constitutional order and di rule of law, putting di interest of our pipo above all else.

Dis na why, immediately after Mr. President intervention to broker peace, we no hesitate to implement di agreed terms in good faith, including welcoming back commissioners wey bin don previously resigned on dia own volition.

Furthermore, we move swiftly to comply with di Supreme Court judgement immediately we receive di certified true copy of di judgement to return di state to normalcy.

Dis steps no dey taken for personal gains but to foster peace, unity and stability in our dear State.

Unfortunately, at evri turn, members of di Rivers State House of Assembly frustrate our efforts, thus making genuine peace and progress difficult." E tok.

Fubara say despite political disagreements, e follow di ethics of good governance, pay salaries and execute projects and ensure say Rivers State dey safe, secure and peaceful under im watch.

At dis critical time, Fubara ask all Rivers pipo to remain peaceful and law-abiding while dem go engage with all relevant institutions to ensure say democracy remains strong and Rivers State continues to thrive.

‘State of emergency na di govnor fault’ - Amaewhule react

Di supended Speaker of di Rivers State House of Assembly Martin Amaewhule don blame di declaration of di State of emergency on Governor Fubara.

For statement e sign in reaction to di declaration of a state of emergency for di state by President Tinubu, Amaewhule say di condition of di state na becos "di govnor don serially disobey judgements and orders of court and fail to govern di state in line with im oath of office and constitution."

Amaewhule add say di assembly go abide with di declaration even though no be wetin dem pray for as Mr President act in di best interest of di state.

E also call for calm as e say di sole administrator go work in di best interest of di state and dem as an assembly go give am any support e need during di period of di emergency.

NBA say di suspension of Governor Fubara and declaration of of state of emergency dey 'unconstitutional'

Di Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) say di purported suspension by di president of di governor of Rivers State, di deputy governor, and members of di Rivers State House of Assembly for six months dey unconstitutional.

For statement wey di President of di NBA, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN sign, e say di 1999 constitution no grant di president di power to remove an elected governor, deputy governor, or members of a state legislature under di guise of a state of emergency.

Rather, di constitution provide clear procedures for di removal of a governor and deputy governor as per Section 188. Similarly, e say di removal of members of di House of Assembly and dissolution of parliament dey governed by constitutional provisions and electoral laws, none of which appear to dey followed in di present circumstances.

"A declaration of emergency no automatically dissolve or suspend elected state goments. Di constitution no empower di president to unilaterally remove or replace elected officials - such actions amount to an unconstitutional usurpation of power and a fundamental breach of Nigeria's federal structure."

Di NBA firmly say di situation for Rivers state, though politically tense, no meet di constitutional threshold for di removal of elected officials.

Di NBA President say declaration of a state of emergency for Rivers state by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as e dey for im address to di nation on, 18 March 2025 na due to di prevailing political tension in di state and due to di "vandalization of pipelines between yesterday and today:"

Dis development Osigwe say get far-reaching constitutional and democratic implications, particularly in light of di provisions of Section 305 of di 1999 Constitution of di Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), wey govern di procedure for di proclamation of a state of emergency and wey di president say e rely upon.

"Section 305 of di Constitution indeed vests di president with di power to declare a state of emergency, di section give strict conditions and procedural safeguards wey must be followed to ensure say such extraordinary measures no go affect di democratic governance and fundamental human rights."

Di NBA dey question weda di political crisis for Rivers state don reach di level of a complete breakdown of law and order wey go warrant di removal of di governor and im administration.

Di statement say di purported removal of Governor Fubara, im deputy, and members of di Rivers State House of Assembly diafor dey unconstitutional, unlawful, and a dangerous affront to our nation's democracy."

Furthermore, e add say subsection (2) of Section 305 provide say:

"A Proclamation issued by di President under dis section go cease to get effect—

(a) if e no dey approved by a resolution of di National Assembly within two days wen di National Assembly dey in session; or

(b) if di National Assembly no dey in session, within ten days after dem reconvene."

Dis e say mean say di provisions provide say a state of emergency declared by di president no go assume automatic validity as e require legislative ratification within a defined timeframe to remain in effect.

"Di NBA, diafore, emphasize say unless di National Assembly duly approve di proclamation, di declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State remains constitutionally inchoate and ineffective." E tok.

In light of all dis, di Nigerian Bar Association stand na say:

Di President no get di constitutional power to remove an elected governor under a state of emergency. Any such action na unconstitutional encroachment on democratic governance and di autonomy of state goments.

Dem also call on di National Assembly to reject any unconstitutional attempt to ratify di removal of di Rivers State Governor and oda elected officials. Di approval of a state of emergency must be based on strict constitutional grounds, not political expediency.

PDP Reject Emergency Rule in Rivers State

Di Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) don reject emergency rule for Rivers State wey President Tinubu announce.

For statement wey di National tok tok pesin of di party, Debo Ologunagba sign, dem say di PDP outrightly reject di attempt by di president to override di Constitution of di Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and undermine di votes and will of di pipo of Rivers State by seeking to remove a democratic goment and force an undemocratic rule in di State.

E say di unconstitutional declaration by President Tinubu of di suspension of the democratically elected Governor of Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara and appointment of an unelected individual, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) to govern di state na clear attack on di nation democracy, and a cancellation of di votes and democratic right of di pipo of Rivers State to choose dia leader under di Constitution.

"Di action of Mr. President clearly border on attempt at state capture. Na di climax of a well-oiled plot to forcefully take over Rivers State wey di All Progressives Congress (APC) don dey fan di crisis to ensure say democracy dey ultimately truncated for di state."

Di statement emphasise say Governor Fubara dey democratically elected for a tenure of four years and im tenure no fit dey unconstitutionally abridged.

Di PDP caution Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) to respect di constitution and ensure say e no take any action or step wey dey capable of derailing di smooth democratic governance for Rivers State as Nigeria no dey under a military rule wia governance of a state na by appointment by a junta.

'We stand in solidarity with Govnor Fubara' - PDPGF

Di Peoples Democratic Party Governors' Forum ( PDPGF) say dem dey concerned with di suspension of democratic rule in Rivers state by President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

For statement wey Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State/Chairman, PDP Governors' Forum sign, dem say di forum stand in solidarity with Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and di pipo of Rivers State at dis time.

"Dia is no oda time wey our philosophy of "TOUCH ONE TOUCH ALL" dey more apt dan now. Pesin wey go to di court of equity must go with clean hands. Mr. President, your silence on di active role played by your Minister of di FCT in di Rivers impasse dey golden and enabling. E don become a law unto imself becos im dey play out your script. Now we know. Dis dey totally unstatemanly, biased, and divisive."

Dem add say di forum stand by wetin NBA don tok about di mata and call on di president to listen to wise counsel and di voice of reason, as well as accept say e make serious mistakes and act in haste, and reverse dis decision before e dey too late.