Nigerians have taken to social media to react to the presidential declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers state on Tuesday night, March 18.

President Bola Tinubu in a nationwide broadcast today, suspended Rivers state governor, Siminialayi Fubara, his deputy, Professor Ngozi Nma Odu, as well as the members of the state house of assembly.

Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator, with immediate effect.

Tinubu said the decision was necessary to restore peace, order, and governance in Rivers, as the state had been in political turmoil for months. The President also cited the demolition of the Rivers state house of assembly complex in December 2023, which he described as an unjustifiable act.

Tinubu said: “More than a year after the demolition, the complex remains unrebuilt, exacerbating tensions between the executive and legislative arms of the state government.”

Tinubu referenced the February 28, 2025 Supreme Court judgment, which ruled that Rivers had effectively ceased to have a functioning government due to the collapse of its legislative arm. The court had upheld the validity of 27 lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), ruling that they must be allowed to resume legislative activities. The 27 legislators have allegiance to Nyesom Wike, the minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), and immediate past governor of Rivers.

See reactions by Nigerians on X below…