The protracted political impasse in Rivers State has taken yet another unpleasant turn, forcing President Bola Tinubu to declare a State of Emergency in the oil-rich state.

In a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, the President expressed deep concerns over the turn of events in the South-South state, saying security reports at his disposal revealed that the state has come under severe security threats.

He also detailed in chronological order the events that have marked the crisis in the state since September 2023, and his interventions to ensure peace is restored.

Tinubu subsequently announced the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

ALSO READ: FULL TEXT: President Tinubu’s declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State

The President appointed Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd.), a former Chief of Naval Staff, as the administrator to oversee the state’s administration during the emergency rule.

What does the Constitution say?

Tinubu drew his power under Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the President to declare a state of emergency under specific conditions.

The Constitution, among other things, prescribes that such a decision shall become tenable if there has been a breakdown of law and order in the affected part of the country.

However, the Constitution requires that the proclamation be published in the government gazette and transmitted to the National Assembly for ratification.

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At that stage, a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly is required to validate the declaration, ensuring a system of checks and balances to prevent the abuse of executive powers.

ALSO READ: State of Emergency: Tinubu appoints Vice Admiral Ibas as interim governor in Rivers State

What has happened since 1999?

This development isn’t alien to the Nigerian polity, especially since the return to democracy in 1999. Tinubu’s action makes it the fifth time a sitting President has declared a state of emergency in the Fourth Republic.

His predecessors, Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, found themselves in similar positions, having to invoke emergency rules, but with varying implementation.

We present to you below other notable instances:

Plateau State (2004)

After days of escalating ethno-religious violence that led to widespread killings of hundreds of people and destruction in the state, Obasanjo declared a state of emergency to allow for the restoration of peace.

Consequently, Obasanjo suspended the then-Governor Joshua Dariye and the state assembly and appointed Major General Chris Alli (retd.), who served as the state administrator between 18 May 2004 and 18 November 2004.

Ekiti State (2006)

Following a leadership crisis that rocked Ekiti State, Obasanjo was forced to impose an emergency rule in October 2006.

The crisis broke out after the controversial impeachment of Governor Ayo Fayose, which triggered chaos in the South-West state. The then-President appointed Brigadier General Adetunji Olurin (retd.) as administrator until normalcy was restored.

Borno, Yobe, Adamawa States (2013)

Unlike the two previous instances, President Jonathan’s declaration of a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States in May 2013 had a different dimension.

ALSO READ: State of Emergency: Atiku accuses Tinubu of fuming Niger Delta unrest with ‘selfish calculations’

The decision was triggered by an escalating Boko Haram insurgency, prompting the Federal Government to deploy more troops and impose curfews to curb insurgent activities.

However, while Jonathan initially suspended the governors of the three affected states, he was later forced to reverse the decision following a Supreme Court judgement.

A male nurse in Germany has been accused of murdring nine helpless patients in a hospice ward so that he could have quieter shifts. The unnamed man, 44, is said to have tried to k!ll a further 34 patients between December 2023 and May 2024.  Prosecutors say the nurse injected his victims with massive overdoses of sedatives and painkillers in the palliative ward for the of the Rhein-Maas Klinikum in Wurselen in western Germany. Several victims, say prosecutors, had suffered several attempts on their lives and others were due to leave the ward after recovering from their conditions. Prosecutors, who are still investigating further claims, believe the case at Aachen Regional Court, which will start on 24th March, could be the biggest medical murdr trial ever heard in the country. A prosecution spokesman explained: “The nurse wanted to have quiet night shifts with little trouble from the patients.” The court will be told how the nurse carried out his murdr spree at the clinic, with investigators expecting more cases to emerge in the coming weeks, Hospital officials began to suspect the unexplained rapid de@th rate on the ward and called in police who exhumed the victims’ bodies and found unexpectedly high levels of sedatives. The nurse was arrested in July 2024 after suspicions grew around the unusual rise in patient de@ths and incidents during his shifts, and has been in custody ever since.  The trial has chilling similarities to the 2024 case of Berlin doctor Johannes M. accused of k!lling 10 patients but suspected of murd#ring up to 50 more for the “thrill of it”. The post Nurse murdrs 9 patients and attempts to k!ll dozens more after “overdosing victims to have a quieter nightshift” appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.

Constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District have strongly rejected any move to recall their senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, following her suspension from the Nigerian Senate.

In a statement released on Monday, March 17, by Hon. Abdulrahaman Badamasiuy, coordinator of the Concerned Constituents of Kogi Central, the group condemned the suspension as illegal and a violation of their democratic rights.

They called on the Senate to immediately reverse its decision, arguing that it has deprived them of federal representation.

“Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan remains the one in whom we deposited our legitimacy as a senatorial constituency, and nobody can unscrupulously violate our democratic and constitutional rights,” the statement read.

READ ALSO: Akpabio’s troubles deepen as Natasha makes fresh revelation in new interview

The group emphasized that Akpoti-Uduaghan was overwhelmingly elected in the 2023 general elections to serve until 2027 and warned against any attempt to remove her through fraudulent means.

Among their key demands, they insisted on her immediate reinstatement and vowed to resist any recall efforts, which they believe are politically motivated.

They also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government to intervene and ensure her safety.

READ ALSO: Natasha vs Akpabio: The Nigerian Senate of misogynistic hooligans [OPINION]

“Let no one provoke us any further while we look forward to having our concerns addressed within the shortest possible time,” the statement concluded.

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As tensions grow in the district, all eyes are now on the Senate to determine whether it will heed the calls for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return or risk further unrest among her supporters.