Rivers State has joined the list of Nigerian states where emergency rules have been declared since Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999.

President Bola Tinubu, in a national broadcast, declared a state of emergency in Rivers, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other elected officials for six months, shortly after Peoples Gazette exclusively reported the plot.

Citing section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, Mr Tinubu said, “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, 18th March 2025 and I so do.”

He added, “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.

Before now, states of emergency had been declared in several other states, including Plateau, Ekiti, Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa.

1. Plateau State (2004)

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo declared the first state of emergency in Plateau State in 2004 over escalating ethno-religious killings.

As a result of the state of emergency, the then Plateau governor, Joshua Dariye, left office while Major General Chris Alli (retd.), appointed administrator for the state, took charge until peace was restored.

2. Ekiti State

In 2006, Mr Obasanjo declared a state of emergency in Ekiti State after former Governor Ayodele Fayose’s impeachment triggered chaos.

Brigadier General Adetunji Olurin (retd.) was appointed Ekiti’s sole administrator within the emergency rule period.

3. Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States

In 2013, former President Goodluck declared a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States amid Boko Haram insurgency.

Mr Jonathan charged the military to take “all necessary action” to “put an end to the impunity of insurgents and terrorists” in the three states.

4. Rivers State (2025)

Amid a power tussle between Mr Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory minister, Mr Tinubu declared a state of emergency.

Citing pipeline bombing and militant threats to cause unrest in the state, Mr Tinubu, in a nationwide broadcast, suspended Mr Fubara, his deputy and all elected officials in the state and appointed Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, Nigeria’s 22nd Chief of Naval Staff between 2015-2021, to take charge.