Hundreds of women from across Rivers State took to the streets of Port Harcourt on Friday to protest the ongoing state of emergency imposed by the Federal Government. The demonstration, which culminated at the gates of the Government House, was a resounding call for the restoration of democratic governance and an end to what they described as the “overreach” of the state’s Sole Administrator.

The protesters, carrying placards with bold inscriptions, decried the suspension of democratic institutions and demanded that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu immediately reinstate constitutional order in the state. Nancy Chidi Nwankwo, spokesperson for the group, read a unified statement on behalf of the women, expressing their deep concern and total rejection of the recent declaration of a state of emergency in their beloved state.

“We, the women of Rivers State, gathered under the banner of justice and democracy, express our deep concern and total rejection of the recent declaration of a state of emergency in our beloved state,” Nwankwo declared. “This imposition is not driven by any genuine threat to national security but is clearly a politically motivated maneuver aimed at subjugating our people and undermining our constitutional democracy.”

The women accused Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), of exceeding his mandate and turning the emergency administration into a political tool. “His actions betray the impartiality expected of his office and reveal the real intention behind this emergency rule—a calculated power grab under the guise of national interest,” the statement alleged.

The group criticized the selective federal intervention, questioning why Rivers—a state they say remains largely peaceful—was targeted, while states suffering widespread insurgency and violence, such as Borno, Zamfara, and Kaduna, were left without similar federal emergency action. “What we are witnessing is not governance—it is occupation. Not democracy, but autocracy,” the statement emphasized.

President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers in March, suspending all democratic institutions and appointing a Sole Administrator, citing pipeline vandalism, political crisis, and governance failures as reasons. The move has sparked debate and drawn criticism from civil society groups, opposition figures, and now, organized women groups.

The protesters vowed to continue their campaign until democratic governance is restored, signaling growing public resistance to the ongoing federal intervention in the state’s political affairs. They appealed to respected Nigerians, including former presidents and diplomats, to intervene and urge President Tinubu to reverse what they termed a grave injustice.