ABUJA, Nigeria – The House of Representatives has announced that it will inaugurate a 19-member ad hoc committee to oversee the state of emergency declared in Rivers State.
This move follows the National Assembly’s approval of the proclamation issued by President Bola Tinubu, declaring the emergency rule in the state.
In a statement released on Sunday, April 13, 2025, Akin Rotimi, the spokesperson for the House, revealed that the committee would be officially inaugurated on April 15, 2025.
The statement also outlined that the decision to approve the emergency rule, with amendments, was based on rigorous legislative consideration.
One of the key amendments was to designate the National Assembly—rather than the Federal Executive Council—as the oversight authority for the emergency measures.
The committee, which will play a critical role in monitoring the implementation of the state of emergency, is tasked with ensuring that governance in Rivers State adheres to constitutional principles and the rule of law.
According to the statement, the committee’s responsibilities will also include ensuring transparency and accountability during the emergency period.
“This development underscores the resolve of the House of Representatives to uphold the supremacy of the Constitution and ensure that the extraordinary measures undertaken during the emergency period remain subject to legislative oversight, guided by transparency, accountability, and the best interest of the good people of Rivers State,” the statement reads.
The committee will be chaired by Julius Ihonvbere, the House Majority Leader, with Ali Isa serving as Deputy Chairman.
Other members include notable legislators such as Isiaka Ibrahim, Idris Ahmed Wase, Aliyu Muktar Betera, Sada Soli, and James Abiodun Faleke, among others.
The secretariat will be headed by Jake Dan-Azumi.
This move by the House of Representatives reaffirms the commitment to ensuring that the emergency measures in Rivers State are aligned with constitutional safeguards.
On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State following a political crisis.
The declaration resulted in the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State Assembly for an initial period of six months.
In addition, Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired naval chief, was appointed as the state’s sole administrator.
In the wake of these developments, the sole administrator suspended all political officeholders appointed by Governor Fubara.
The state of emergency was triggered after a Supreme Court judgment annulled the local government elections held in Rivers State in October 2024, with Fubara’s directive for the local government chairpersons to hand over to appointed administrators preceding the ruling.
Last week, the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt issued an injunction restraining Ibas from appointing coordinators to oversee the 23 local government areas in the state, adding further legal complexity to the ongoing situation.
