Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his family were reportedly held hostage at the Government House in Port Harcourt by heavily armed soldiers on Tuesday night. This happened shortly after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state.
Eyewitnesses and government officials told Peoples Gazette that soldiers blocked all entrances and exits to the Government House, preventing the governor, his family, and staff from leaving.
An official at the scene said, “We are being held hostage. They said they don’t have instructions to let anyone leave the premises.”
Earlier on Tuesday, President Tinubu invoked Section 180 of the Nigerian Constitution to impose emergency rule in Rivers State. The decision was based on the escalating political crisis between Governor Fubara and lawmakers loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike.
The crisis worsened after the lawmakers initiated impeachment proceedings against Fubara last week, following a fallout with Wike, who played a key role in his election in 2023.
As part of the emergency measures, Tinubu suspended Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the state Assembly members. He appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, a retired Chief of Naval Staff, to oversee the state’s administration.
While it was clear that soldiers were enforcing the state of emergency, some sources questioned whether they were following direct orders or exceeding their mandate.
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The Nigerian Army and Defence Headquarters have not yet responded to inquiries about the situation. It remains unclear if the soldiers were instructed to detain the governor and his family or if they acted on their own.
President Tinubu’s decision has sparked intense debates across Nigeria. Many people questioned whether he had the legal authority to suspend an elected governor, especially since the impeachment process had not been completed.
Prominent lawyers, including Inibehe Effiong and Folarin ‘Falz’ Falana, criticized the move.
“The president has no constitutional power to suspend an elected governor who has not been impeached,” Effiong argued.
Falana also condemned the decision, stating that Tinubu’s actions amounted to “taking the law into his own hands.”