On 18th March, President Tinubu promulgated an illegal state of emergency in Rivers State and unconstitutionally usurped the authorities of the elected structures in the state.
He proclaimed as follows:
“The Administrator will not make any new laws. He will, however, be free to formulate regulations as may be found necessary to do his job, but such regulations will need to be considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council and promulgated by the President for the state.”
“It is my fervent hope that this inevitable intervention will help to restore peace and order in Rivers State by awakening all the contenders to the constitutional imperatives binding on all political players in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria as a whole.”
Mr. President’s stated aim was to prevent an anticipated breakdown of law and order in Rivers State. He claimed:
“Between yesterday and today, there have been disturbing incidents of vandalisation of pipelines by some militants without the Governor taking any action to curtail them.”
He also cited the Supreme Court judgment of February 18 as proof that government had ceased to exist in Rivers State.
However, since the Sole Administrator took office, he has done nothing to restore peace and order, because there was no security threat to begin with. Idle and without legitimate constitutional duty, he has embarked on a wholesale dismantling of existing democratic structures and handed them over to the Wike group — in a clear power grab orchestrated by President Tinubu himself.
CATALOGUE OF UNCONSTITUTIONAL ACTS
- Illegal Proclamation of Emergency: On March 18, 2025, President Tinubu unconstitutionally proclaimed a state of emergency and dismantled democratic structures in Rivers State where no emergency existed.
- Unlawful Appointment of Sole Administrator: Retired military officer, Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, was appointed Sole Administrator in contravention of the Constitution.
- Defiance of Supreme Court Orders: President Tinubu directed the release of state funds to Rivers State despite the Supreme Court’s explicit order to the CBN and Accountant General not to do so.
- Violation of Presidential Directives: Despite Mr. President’s declaration that the Sole Administrator should not make new laws, only formulate regulations, the Administrator has acted outside these bounds. I doubt whether the Federal Executive Council has met to approve all his illegal acts.
- False Claims on Assembly Reconstruction: Mr President falsely claimed that no action was being taken to rebuild the House of Assembly, despite near completion by Governor Fubara, as testified by the Sole administrator himself when he visited the complex.
- Appointment of Local Government Administrators: Sole Administrators were appointed to LGAs despite existing neutral administrative heads and Supreme Court orders mandating only democratically elected local governments.
- Constitution of State Boards and Commissions: Especially the Rivers State Electoral Commission and Local Government Service Commission, both stacked with known loyalists of Minister Nyesom Wike, which exposes the hidden agenda behind the state of emergency as control of local government has been a major issue in the political conflict.
- Dismissal of Political Appointees: Appointees of the elected Governor were unconstitutionally dismissed.
- Preparation of a New State Budget: The Sole Administrator has no constitutional authority to prepare a state budget, especially with no House of Assembly to approve it.
- Receipt and Management of Federal Allocations: Funds are being received and spent without constitutional backing or oversight.
- Appointment of New Secretary to the State Government: This role constitutionally falls under the purview of an elected governor.
- Public Statements on Governance: The Sole Administrator has made statements and issued directives as though elected, usurping the role of the Governor.
QUESTIONS FOR MR. PRESIDENT
Is the appointment of a State INEC related to security or simply to re-engineer Wike’s political dominance?
Why are Sole Administrators appointed to LGAs when neutral heads of administration already exist?
Is the motive to grab LGA funds or create positions for Wike’s loyalists?
How does dismantling Governor Fubara’s political structure relate to the emergency proclamation or help with restoring security?
Can the Sole Administrator validly prepare a budget in a democracy with no legislature in place?
Can the National Assembly even approve such a budget without formally invoking Section 11 of the Constitution?
Are these illegal actions consistent with a man with a short-term mandate?
CONCLUSION
President Tinubu’s intervention is no longer about restoring order. It is a brazen attempt to hand over Rivers State’s political machinery to his ally, Minister Nyesom Wike, in preparation for a 2027 takeover. This is not democratic governance — it is a military coup in civilian disguise.
The people of Rivers State and all Nigerians who cherish democracy must resist this unconstitutional assault on their sovereignty.
BY
Hon C.I.D. Maduabum LL.M
April 11, 2025