President Bola Tinubu has officially declared the end of the six-month state of emergency that was put in place in Rivers State. He announced that Governor Siminalayi Fubara, along with his deputy, Ngozi Nma Odu, and the members of the State House of Assembly, will return to their positions starting Thursday, September 18, 2025.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Presidency, Tinubu explained that the emergency, which began on March 18, 2025, was deemed necessary to tackle the severe governance issues faced by Rivers State at that time. "It gives me great pleasure to announce that the emergency in Rivers State shall end at midnight today," he stated.
He went on to highlight the turmoil caused by a conflict between the governor and 27 lawmakers who were aligned with the House Speaker, resulting in a state that lacked an effective government. The Supreme Court even confirmed in one of its rulings that there was 'no government in Rivers State.' "It became absolutely essential to take action to prevent chaos in Rivers State, hence I had to use the powers granted to me by Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to declare the state of emergency," he said.
Tinubu mentioned that the offices of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and elected members of the State House of Assembly were suspended for an initial period of six months, which concludes today. He clarified that this intervention had the backing of the National Assembly and was aimed at restoring peace and order in the state.
Despite the over 40 lawsuits filed against this declaration, Tinubu insisted that the decision was justified within the constitutional framework, asserting that it would have been a significant failure on his part not to have made such a proclamation.
The President expressed his contentment with what he termed a "groundswell of a new spirit of understanding" among the political players in Rivers, suggesting that this atmosphere warranted the conclusion of the emergency after the six-month timeframe. "I am pleased to say that, based on the intelligence available to me, there is a renewed spirit of cooperation and enthusiasm among all stakeholders in Rivers State for a swift return to democratic governance," he said.
He considered this a positive development and a notable achievement. Therefore, he saw no reason for the state of emergency to extend even a day beyond the initial six months he had announced at the start.
In addition, Tinubu took the opportunity to encourage governors and state assemblies across the country to focus on fostering harmony between the executive and legislative branches of government, ensuring that Nigerians can reap the benefits of democracy. For the duration of the state of emergency, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.) has been acting as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.