Undemocratic Governance’: Rivers Chief Magistrate Resigns Over State of Emergency.
A Chief Magistrate in the Rivers State judiciary, Ejike King George, has resigned from public service, citing ethical and constitutional concerns following the recent suspension of democratic governance in the state.
In a strongly worded resignation letter dated April 11, 2025, and addressed to the Honourable Chief Judge of Rivers State via the Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission, George condemned the appointment of a sole administrator by the federal government, describing it as “alien and antithetical to democracy.”
“This difficult and regrettable decision is informed largely by my discomfort with the recent appointment of a quasi-military administration to run the affairs of a modern State like ours,” the letter read in part.
George, who has spent 22 years in legal practice—including 16 years as a judicial officer in Rivers State—stated that continuing to serve under what he described as an undemocratic regime would amount to “tacit and naïve acquiescence” to an unconstitutional act.
His resignation comes in the wake of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025. The President also announced the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for a period of six months.
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Tinubu said the action was necessary to “restore stability” amid persistent political unrest triggered by a power tussle between the governor and the state legislature. He further appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas as the Sole Administrator to oversee the state’s affairs during the period of emergency rule.
“By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs. Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months,” the President announced.
The appointment of a sole administrator has triggered a wave of reactions from legal experts, civil society groups, and political analysts, many of whom see it as a dangerous precedent and a threat to Nigeria’s democratic structure.
George’s resignation adds a critical judicial voice to the chorus of dissent, highlighting the deepening constitutional crisis in Rivers State.
The Rivers State Government has yet to comment on the resignation or respond to the growing backlash from various quarters. As of press time, there was no official statement from the Nigerian Bar Association or the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
