Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his family are reportedly being held hostage at the Government House in Port Harcourt by heavily armed soldiers following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. The dramatic development occurred Tuesday night after the president invoked Section 180 of the Nigerian Constitution, citing a prolonged and escalating political feud in the state.

The crisis stems from a bitter fallout between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who orchestrated Fubara’s election in 2023 despite corruption allegations. Lawmakers loyal to Wike initiated impeachment proceedings against Fubara last week, prompting the president’s intervention. Shortly after Tinubu’s announcement, soldiers barricaded all entrances and exits to the Government House, preventing Fubara and his family from leaving.

“We are being held hostage,” an official at the scene said Tuesday night. “They said they don’t have instructions to let anyone leave the premises.” The soldiers also reportedly suppressed all movements around the Government House, refusing to allow the governor and his family to pack their belongings.

It remains unclear whether the soldiers acted strictly on presidential orders or exceeded their mandate. Spokespersons for the Nigerian Army and Defence Headquarters have not yet commented on the situation.

President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the feuding parties for six months, effective immediately, has sparked widespread controversy. Social media platforms are ablaze with debates over the constitutionality of suspending an elected governor who has not been formally impeached by state lawmakers. The impeachment process against Fubara began on Monday, just 24 hours before the president’s emergency declaration.

Legal experts, including Inibehe Effiong and Folarin ‘Falz’ Falana, have criticized Tinubu’s actions, accusing him of disregarding constitutional provisions. “The president has taken the law into his own hands,” Effiong stated, echoing the sentiments of many who view the move as an overreach of executive power.

In the interim, President Tinubu has appointed retired Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, as the military administrator of Rivers State. The situation remains tense as residents and political observers await further developments in the unfolding crisis.