Six days after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, the decision continue to stir controversy, with critics decrying it as an attack on democracy and an unconstitutional overreach.
Amid the growing backlash, socio-political critic and lawyer, Frank Tietie, has faulted the inaction of Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, and Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, for not taking legal action to challenge the declaration at the Supreme Court.
Tietie, the Executive Director of Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), warned via his official X handle on Sunday, March 23, that their failure to act could set a dangerous precedent that might one day threaten their own states.
“All it takes is for one disgruntled group or a powerful individual to create enough mayhem in their states, including sabotaging oil pipelines, and the President could seize control of their oil-rich states through a state of emergency proclamation,” he stated.
While PDP governors have vowed to challenge the emergency rule, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has already taken legal action. On Friday, March 22, SERAP’s Rivers State Volunteers’ Lawyers Network (SVLN) filed a lawsuit (FHC/ABJ/CS/558/2025) at the Federal High Court, Abuja, against President Tinubu, Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and Sole Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.
The Rivers crisis stem from a prolonged power struggle between former Governor Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara. This political deadlock led to the emergency declaration on March 18, suspending Fubara, his deputy, and all state lawmakers for six months.
Vice Admiral Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff (2015–2021), was sworn in as Rivers State’s sole administrator by President Tinubu on March 19 and assumed office the next day.
With lawsuits mounting and opposition growing, the battle over Rivers State’s fate is far from over. Observers are keenly watching whether the courts will intervene or if the emergency rule will remain in effect.
