Prominent Niger Delta human rights advocate, Ann-Kio Briggs, has openly criticized Rear Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (Rtd.), the Administrator overseeing Rivers State, accusing him of escalating tensions instead of promoting peace, contrary to President Bola Tinubu’s mandate.
Briggs, speaking during a Channels Television appearance on Monday, claimed that rather than calming the political crisis, Ibas has worsened the situation.
“Instead of pouring water on a fire he was sent to quench, he is throwing petrol on it,” she said. “He came into a stable situation and forcefully displaced those elected through a democratic process. Even in the Government House, we hear he’s taken down Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s photos. Let me be clear: Fubara remains the governor of Rivers State.”
The crisis took another legal turn when Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Afam Osigwe, SAN, strongly opposed the National Assembly’s endorsement of President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in the state.
During an Arise TV interview on Thursday night, Osigwe described the move as unconstitutional, arguing that the President lacks the authority to remove elected state officials under such circumstances.
“The NBA maintains that the state of emergency declared in Rivers State has no constitutional backing. As such, any suspension of the governor, deputy, or House of Assembly members based on it is equally unlawful,” he said.
Osigwe further criticized the legislative process, noting that both chambers of the National Assembly reportedly passed the resolution via a voice vote, contrary to constitutional requirements.
“When the Constitution demands a two-thirds majority, a voice vote simply doesn’t meet that threshold. You must count and document the actual votes.”
He pointed out Section 114 of the Constitution, which explicitly states that neither the President nor the National Assembly has the power to remove a sitting governor or deputy.
“The real solution lies in political dialogue,” Osigwe asserted. “What Rivers State needs isn’t emergency declarations but a sincere, ego-free conversation among all parties involved, in the interest of the people.”
