President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday swore in Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd.) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The swearing-in ceremony, held in the President’s office, was attended by key government officials, including Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, Attorney General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, Principal Private Secretary Hakeem Muri-Okunola, and Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga.

Tinubu’s decision follows his Tuesday night declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

In a national broadcast, the President cited prolonged political instability, constitutional violations, and security concerns as reasons for the intervention. The crisis in Rivers State has been fueled by an ongoing power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

Vice Admiral Ibas, who was Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021, will oversee the state’s administration until normalcy is restored. Tinubu clarified that the judiciary in Rivers State remains unaffected by the declaration.