Photos Emerge As Tinubu Swears In Ibok-Ete Ibas As Rivers Sole Administrator

• President Bola Tinubu has sworn in retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator of Rivers state
• This followed the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all state lawmakers
• The swearing-in ceremony took place at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday, a day after Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers

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Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

State House, Abuja - On Wednesday, March 19, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu swore in Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice admiral, as the sole administrator of Rivers state.

The ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Dada Olusegun, the special assistant to the president on social media, disclosed this in a statement shared on his X page on Wednesday.

The statement, accompanied by photos, read:

"President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) swears in the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas’ (CFR), at the State House."

Tinubu suspends Fubara, appoints Ibas

This event comes a day after Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers state, citing escalating political unrest and security concerns.

The president also suspended Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, Ngozi Odu, his deputy, and all state lawmakers for six months.

The president nominated Ibas as sole administrator and charged him with the management of the state without enacting new laws.

Tinubu's announcement followed months of escalating tensions between Governor Fubara and key political figures, including his predecessor Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

Fubara speaks after Tinubu's suspension

Previously, Legit.ng reported that Siminalayi Fubara, the suspended governor of Rivers state, had finally broken the silence, following President Bola Tinubu's declaration of a state of emergency in the oil-rich state.

In a statement on Wednesday morning, March 19, Fubara insisted that he followed the rule of law in the political crisis that has been rocking the state barely six months after he resumed office on May 29, 2023.

See photos of the swearing-in ceremony below:

Read more about Rivers crisis:

• Breaking: Senate postpones debate on state of emergency in Rivers, reason emerges
• JUST IN: Fubara, family, move out of Rivers Govt House, details emerge
• Rivers: NBA names who can override Tinubu, last hope for Fubara
• Just in: 12 governors reject Tinubu's suspension of Fubara, give reason
• Breaking: Senate to take action on Fubara's suspension, emergency rule in Rivers
• Reno Omokri, Fani-Kayode, Shehu Sani react as Tinubu declares state of emergency in Rivers

Rivers crisis: Atiku reacts after Tinubu suspends Fubara

Similarly, Legit.ng reported that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticised President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers state, calling it political manipulation.

He accused Tinubu of negligence in addressing the crisis and held him responsible for the security breaches and unrest in the Niger Delta.

Atiku condemned the suspension of Governor Fubara as an assault on democracy, urging Nigerians to denounce the actions.

Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, copy editor at Legit.ng.