President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially lifted the six-month state of emergency imposed on Rivers State, restoring full democratic governance with the reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly.

 

The announcement was made during a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday evening, with the President confirming that the affected officials will resume their constitutional duties on Wednesday, September 18, 2025.

President Tinubu recalled that the emergency was declared on March 18, 2025, after months of political turmoil brought governance in Rivers to a complete standstill. The crisis, sparked by a power struggle between Governor Fubara and a dominant faction in the State Assembly, had crippled legislative processes and endangered vital economic infrastructure.

 

“Having exhausted all peaceful interventions without success, it became painfully inevitable that I invoke the powers conferred on me by Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution,” Tinubu said.

 

He noted that the Supreme Court had, at the peak of the crisis, ruled that there was no functional government in the state, thus justifying federal intervention.

Tinubu commended the National Assembly for swiftly approving the emergency proclamation, and expressed appreciation to traditional rulers, civil society, and the people of Rivers State for their cooperation throughout the period of federal oversight.

 

Despite over 40 legal challenges filed against the emergency rule, Tinubu defended his decision as a constitutional obligation, saying:

 

“It would have been a colossal failure on my part as President not to have made that proclamation.”

 

With security agencies reporting a new atmosphere of “understanding, readiness, and cooperation” among political actors in Rivers, Tinubu declared that the emergency would not last a day beyond the six-month period originally stipulated.

Effective Wednesday, Governor Fubara, Speaker Martins Amaewhule, and other officials in the executive and legislative arms are expected to return to their offices, marking a return to full civilian rule.

 

The President used the opportunity to urge leaders at all levels to learn from the Rivers crisis:

 

“Only peace and cooperation between the executive and legislature can guarantee the delivery of democratic dividends. Let this realisation drive your actions at all times.”

The Rivers political crisis escalated in late 2024 following deepening tensions between Governor Fubara and lawmakers loyal to political godfathers in the state. The impasse prevented the passage of the state budget, while reports of sabotage on oil facilities heightened national concern.

 

The emergency rule imposed by Tinubu included the suspension of all state institutions, with a federal administrator overseeing the day-to-day affairs of the state.

With the restoration of constitutional order, Rivers now faces the task of rebuilding governance, restoring public trust, and navigating the difficult road to political stability.