Women rally in Port Harcourt backing state of emergency in Rivers

A group of women in Rivers State took to the streets of Port Harcourt on Monday, staging a rally in support of the state of emergency declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 18, 2025.

This marks the first public demonstration openly backing the emergency declaration, which has stirred significant political and public reactions since it was announced.

President Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency came with the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, and the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The President then appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), a former Chief of Naval Staff, as the Sole Administrator of the state..

Ibas, on assumption of office, suspended all political appointees as well as heads of government departments and agencies.

It was observed that the rally by the women, who were all dressed in white attires, came as a response to the peaceful protests that were staged by women loyal to Fubara, under the auspices of Rivers Women Unite for Sim (RWUS).

The women carried placards that read: “State of Emergency Is Constitutional”, “No Tribal War in Rivers State, No More Fubara”, among others.

Speaking to journalists, one of the organisers of the rally and former vice chairman of Etche local government area of the state, Hon. Gladys Nweke, said: “What we are doing here is a solidarity march in support of the state of emergency in Rivers State.

“Since the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State, there has been peace. We no longer hear about killings and cult activities in the state.”