President Bola Tinubu has sworn-in Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (CFR) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
The swearing -in ceremony was held at the State House, Abuja on Wednesday.
President Tinubu had declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State following the protracted political crisis in the state.
Tinubu has also suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and all the members of the House of Assembly for six months.
He, therefore, nominated Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as a military administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the “interest of the good people of Rivers State”.
He noted that the declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate.
According to him, the Administrator would not make any new laws, however, he would be free to formulate regulations as may be found necessary to do his job, but such regulations, he clarified would need to be considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and promulgated by the President for the state.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has expressed concerns over the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and all the members of the House of Assembly.
The NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, in a statement said the 1999 Constitution does not empower the 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.
He, therefore, Called on the National Assembly to reject any unconstitutional attempt to ratify the removal of the Rivers State Governor and other elected officials.
He warned that suspending elected officials under emergency rule sets a dangerous precedent that undermines democracy and could be misused to unseat elected governments in the future.
According to him, the approval of a state of emergency must be based on strict constitutional grounds, not political expediency.
“For a state of emergency to be declared, Section 305(3) of the Constitution outlines specific conditions, including: War or external aggression against Nigeria, Imminent danger of invasion or war, A breakdown of public order and safety to such an extent that ordinary legal measures are insufficient, A clear danger to Nigeria’s existence, Occurrence of any disaster or natural calamity affecting a state or a part of it, Such other public danger that constitutes a threat to the Federation.
“The NBA questions whether the political crisis in Rivers State has reached the level of a complete breakdown of law and order warranting the removal of the Governor and his administration. Political disagreements, legislative conflicts, or executive-legislative tensions do not constitute a justification for emergency rule. Such conflicts should be resolved through legal and constitutional mechanisms, including the judiciary, rather than executive fiat,” he said.
