Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in May 1999, the country has experienced multiple instances of state-level emergency rule. Three presidents—Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Bola Tinubu—have invoked Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to declare a state of emergency in different regions.
Under this section, a state of emergency is defined as a situation of national danger, disaster, or terrorist threat, during which the government suspends normal constitutional procedures to restore order. It grants the President sweeping powers to implement immediate regulations for public security.
Timeline of Emergency Rule in Nigeria
1. Plateau State (May 18, 2004)
President Olusegun Obasanjo declared a state of emergency in Plateau State, suspending Governor Joshua Dariye and the State House of Assembly. The move followed escalating sectarian violence between Muslim and Christian communities, which had resulted in over 2,000 deaths since September 2001. Obasanjo accused the state government of failing to contain the bloodshed.
2. Borno & Plateau States (December 31, 2011)
President Goodluck Jonathan imposed a state of emergency on selected local government areas in Borno and Plateau States due to growing security threats from Boko Haram insurgents and communal clashes.
3. Borno, Yobe & Adamawa States (May 14, 2013)
President Goodluck Jonathan extended emergency rule to the entire northeastern states of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa, following a surge in attacks by Boko Haram militants. The declaration led to increased military operations aimed at curbing insurgent activities in the region.
4. Rivers State (March 18, 2025)
President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State due to a prolonged political crisis. In a nationwide broadcast, Tinubu suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the House of Assembly for six months. He appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as administrator to oversee the state’s affairs during the period.
These instances reflect how the emergency rule has been used as a crisis management tool in Nigeria’s democratic era.
