Political activists in Rivers State have raised concerns that the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu might extend beyond the initial six-month period, citing the actions and body language of the appointed Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd).

President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the State House of Assembly. The President cited political crisis in the state and accused Governor Fubara of demolishing the State House of Assembly building.

Since assuming office, Ibas has taken several controversial actions, including appointing administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas, recovering vehicles from the suspended Deputy Governor, dissolving the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), and reconstituting it with new members allegedly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Budget Submission Raises Concerns

Last week, President Tinubu wrote to the National Assembly requesting consideration and passage of Rivers State's N1.481 trillion 2025 budget, citing the Supreme Court's nullification of the state's previous budget and the ongoing emergency rule.

Chizy Enyi, a Port Harcourt-based political activist, legal practitioner, and APC chieftain, told DAILY POST that the budget submission indicates the President has no intention of restoring democratic governance soon.

"For those saying that there is likelihood of cutting short the six-month suspension of the governor, I think those people must be day dreaming," Enyi said. "Assuming the president wants that, from today and May 29 that he will address the nation in less than one week, what is the essence of transmitting [Rivers State] budget to the National Assembly?"

Development Projects Halted

Enyi further claimed that development projects in Rivers State have stalled since the emergency rule began, with contractors including Julius Berger reportedly leaving various construction sites across the state.

"Everything about construction has died down. And in fact, since there is no more democracy, there is also no more development in Rivers State," he stated.

APC Spokesperson Predicts Extension

Darlington Nwauju, the APC Spokesperson in Rivers State, predicted that the emergency rule would likely extend beyond six months, suggesting that the primary purpose of restoring peace in the state has not been achieved.

"I want to predict that the body language of the Sole Administrator and even his comments... gives him away as a man who is actually bending towards being beyond the six months period," Nwauju said.

He added that the extension would depend on "the interplay of forces on ground" and whether the major political actors decide to "sheath their sword and drop their ego."

Former PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, has described the Sole Administrator's activities as setting "Rivers State on a keg of gunpowder," while Niger Delta human rights activist Ann-Kio Briggs accused Ibas of "pouring petrol to the fire" that President Tinubu sent him to quench.

Despite these concerns, Nwauju emphasized that it would be in "the best interest of democracy for the political actors to know that it should always be about the people and not about a set or class of individuals or the elite."