Hundreds of Women March in Port Harcourt Streets, Back State of Emergency in Rivers, Video Trends

• Hundreds of women took to the streets of Port Harcourt on Monday to show support for the state of emergency declaration in Rivers
• The demonstrators, all dressed in white, marched from Garrison Bus Stop along Aba Road toward the Government House while chanting solidarity songs
• In a video trending online, the women declared support for Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, who was recently appointed by President Tinubu as Rivers sole administrator

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

Port Harcourt, Rivers state - In a significant twist of events, on Monday, April 14, 2025, hundreds of women in Rivers marched in Port Harcourt, the state capital, in support of the declaration of a state of emergency.

Rivers women endorse emergency rule, Ibas leadership

The women, all dressed in white, gathered at the Garrison Bus Stop in the city centre at 8 am to begin the rally.

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Rivers emergency rule: “Gov Fubara will be back,” Tompolo declares, sends crucial message to Wike, Tinubu

As reported by The Punch, the women sang solidarity songs in support of the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (red), along Aba Road and marched towards the government house in Port Harcourt.

Wike's aide shares video of solidarity rally

Lere Olayinka, an aide to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, confirmed the development in a post shared on his X page, accompanied by a video of the rally.

He tweeted:

"Rivers women in support of state of emergency."

Recall that last week, hundreds of women, under the aegis of ‘Rivers Women for Sim,’ staged a protest against the state of emergency and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Watch the video below:

Why Tinubu declared state of emergency in Rivers

Legit.ng reported that on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers state, citing escalating political unrest and security concerns.

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Wike vs Fubara: Ijaw nation at war with Tinubu, APC? Sen Dickson opens up

Tinubu also suspended Siminalayi Fubara, Ngozi Odu, his deputy, and all state lawmakers for six months.

The president nominated Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice admiral, as the sole administrator and charged him with the management of the state without enacting new laws.

However, Tinubu's announcement followed months of escalating tensions between Governor Fubara and his predecessor Nyesom Wike, now FCT minister.

Political observers and residents of the state keenly await how things will go in the coming months after the expiration of the six-month state of emergency declaration.

Read more about Rivers crisis here

• “There’s an attempt to extend Rivers emergency rule” - Commissioner
• Wike vs Fubara: Ijaw nation at war with Tinubu, APC? Sen Dickson opens up
• “How I was offered N5bn to coordinate Fubara’s impeachment,” Edison Ehie speaks

Rivers crisis: “Gov Fubara will be back,” says Tompolo

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Chief Government Ekpemupolo, 'Tompolo', declared support for the suspended governor of Rivers state, Sim Fubara.

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APC chieftain issues warning over marginalisation of South-east

Weeks after Tinubu declared a state of emergency, Tompolo urged the warring parties, Fubara and FCT minister Nyesom Wike, to reconcile.

The Ijaw leader urged President Tinubu to intervene in the Rivers political crisis to restore peace in the oil-rich region.

Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng