Port Harcourt, Nigeria — April 16, 2025
Fresh protests erupted in Port Harcourt on Wednesday as hundreds of women under the Rivers Women Unite Prayer Group marched through the city, demanding an end to the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu and calling for the reinstatement of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The women, representing all 23 local government areas of Rivers State, decried what they called “unconstitutional and unjust actions” by the federal government, including the appointment of a Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), to run the state for an initial period of six months.
Wednesday’s demonstration followed a similar protest earlier in the week. The women carried placards reading: “Ibas, your policies are one-sided,” “We are gagged in our LGAs,” and “Rivers CP must go.”
“We reject this dictatorship” – Protest Leaders
In a joint statement read at the protest venue by Dr. Nancy Chidi Nwankwo and Dr. Vivian Ige-Elenwo, the group denounced the emergency rule and accused the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, of brutalizing peaceful demonstrators while allegedly protecting a government-sponsored counter-protest.
“We, the women of Rivers State, strongly reiterate our demand for the immediate termination of the illegal state of emergency,” said Nwankwo. “We reject every attempt to silence our people. We condemn the dictatorial tendencies of Vice Admiral Ibas and CP Adepoju.”
The group claimed that hired thugs were used in a counter-protest to portray public support for the emergency rule.
House of Reps Summons Sole Administrator
Meanwhile, in Abuja, the House of Representatives’ Ad Hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight has summoned Vice Admiral Ibas to appear before it on Thursday, April 17, at the National Assembly. The committee, chaired by House Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, is tasked with assessing the situation in Rivers and ensuring proper legislative oversight under Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution.
The Sole Administrator’s office confirmed that he would honour the invitation.
“It is within the right of the National Assembly,” said his media aide, Hector Igbikiowubo. “We are very well disposed to honouring the invitation.”
He added that preparations were underway for the 2025 Appropriation Bill, noting that “the NEEDS assessment is ongoing.”
Protesters Demand Action, Not Promises
The protesting women demanded:
The immediate end to the emergency rule.
The removal of Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju.
The reinstatement of Governor Fubara.
The redeployment of military personnel to conflict-ridden regions.
They also warned of worsening economic conditions, with businesses closing and investments fleeing the state.
“As always, it is our women and children who bear the brunt of this hardship,” Nwankwo stated.
The group called on civil society, the National Assembly, and all Nigerians of conscience to speak up and intervene.
