Senator Dickson Accuses Tinubu Administration of Military Rule in Rivers

During the 2025 Democracy Day proceedings in Abuja, Seriake Dickson, Senator for Bayelsa West, accused President Bola Tinubu of overseeing a military-style suppression of democracy in Rivers State. Dickson alleged that the administration imposed an unconstitutional state of emergency in March 2025, resulting in the six-month suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the State House of Assembly. He further accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of violating his constitutional rights by silencing his attempts to raise a point of order regarding appointments made by the state's Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas.

While Vice President Kashim Shettima praised President Tinubu as the fulfillment of Chief Moshood Abiola's democratic vision, critics argued the President's address ignored economic hardship and security crises. Timi Frank commended Dickson for his principled stance against the administration's perceived anti-democratic tendencies.

In response, the Rivers State National Assembly caucus, led by Kingsley Chinda, dismissed Dickson's claims as intellectually dishonest. The caucus defended the state of emergency as a lawful action under Section 305 of the Constitution, citing a February 28, 2025, Supreme Court of Nigeria ruling that the state lacked a functional government. Chinda asserted that the current administrator is a civilian and urged the Senate Committee on Ethics to investigate Dickson for inciting ethnic divisions.