Ibok-Ete Ibas, the sole administrator of Rivers, has suspended all political officeholders appointed by suspended governor, Sim Fubara in the state.
In a statement signed by the chief of staff to the administrator on Wednesday, the suspension takes immediate effect.
Those affected by the suspension include secretary to the state government, chief of staff, commissioners; chairmen and members of all boards, councils of agencies, commissions, institutions, and parastatals; and special advisers, special assistants and senior special assistants.
The suspended officials are to hand over to the permanent secretary and where there is no permanent secretary, the most senior director should take charge.
‘This is pursuant to the powers conferred on the administrator of Rivers state, His Excellency, Vice-Admiral (RTD) Ibok Ete Ekwe Ibas CFR, by the President, His Excellency, Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR),” the statement reads.
On March 18, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich state over the political crisis and instability in the state.
He also suspended Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state; his deputy, Ngozi Odu; and all members of the Rivers assembly for an initial period of six months.
The president immediately appointed Ibas, a retired naval chief, as the state’s sole administrator.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party governors, on Wednesday, took legal action against the Federal Government, challenging the suspension of Fubara and his deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu.
The governors argued that President Bola Tinubu’s action violated the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and undermined democratic governance.
In the suit filed by the governors of Bauchi, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Enugu, Osun, Plateau, and Zamfara, they asked the apex court to reinstate Fubara as Rivers State governor.
The seven governors, through their Attorneys-General, urged the Supreme Court to declare that:
“the President has no powers whatsoever or authority to suspend a democratically elected governor and deputy governor of a state in the federation of Nigeria, under the guise of or pursuant to the proclamation of a state of emergency in any state of the federation, including the states represented by the plaintiffs.”
Listed as defendants were President Tinubu and the National Assembly.
The governors based their argument on the provisions of sections 1(2), 5(2), and 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
They also urged the apex court to declare that the President had no powers to suspend a democratically elected House of Assembly of a state, pursuant to Sections 192 (4), (6) and 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
The appellants sought a declaration that “the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly was unconstitutional, unlawful, and in gross violation of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”
The governors argued that Tinubu lacked the statutory powers to suspend a serving governor and appointed a sole administrator in his stead.
They challenged the constitutionality of the voice votes used by the National Assembly to ratify Tinubu’s proclamation and argued that the emergency rule did not comply with the constitutional requirements set out in Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
They, therefore, urged the Supreme Court to nullify the appointment of the sole administrator appointed to govern the affairs of Rivers State.
The governors prayed for “An order nullifying the proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State made by the first defendant and wrongfully approved by the second defendant.
“An order restraining the defendant, by himself, his servants, agents, and privies, from implementing the unlawful suspension of the governor and deputy governor of Rivers State.
“An order restraining the defendant, by himself, his servants, agents, and privies, from interfering in any manner whatsoever with the execution by the governor and deputy governor of Rivers State of their constitutional and statutory duties, as well as their electoral mandate.
“An order restraining the defendant from attempting the suspension of any other governor of any state in Nigeria, particularly the plaintiffs, or from interfering with or undermining their constitutional and statutory duties.”
