In a shocking move, President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
This decision was announced in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, citing the political crisis and instability in the state.
According to Tinubu, the governor and deputy governor failed to request his intervention as required by the constitution, leaving him with no choice but to invoke Section 305 of the Constitution to declare a state of emergency. This move effectively puts the state under federal control.
The crisis in Rivers State has been ongoing, with the Supreme Court recently reinstating pro-Wike lawmakers and invalidating the actions of Governor Fubara. The situation has raised concerns about the rule of law and the stability of the state.