President Bola Tinubu has formally reinstated Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State following the expiration of a six-month state of emergency declared on March 18, 2025.
In a national broadcast on Wednesday, Tinubu explained that the intervention was necessary at the time to prevent a complete breakdown of governance after prolonged disputes between the executive and legislative arms in the state.
He recalled that the conflict had left Rivers without an effective government, as the House of Assembly was deeply divided, appropriation bills could not be passed, and critical infrastructure such as oil pipelines was being vandalised. According to the President, efforts to mediate the crisis had failed, prompting him to invoke powers under Section 305 of the Constitution to suspend the Governor, Deputy Governor, and members of the State House of Assembly, while Ibok Ete Ibas was appointed Sole Administrator.
Tinubu acknowledged opposition to the emergency rule, including over 40 court cases challenging its legality, but insisted it was a constitutional safeguard designed to restore peace and order. He expressed satisfaction that intelligence reports now show a “groundswell of a new spirit of understanding” among political actors in Rivers State.
“The emergency in Rivers State of Nigeria shall end with effect from midnight today,” Tinubu declared. “The Governor, His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara, the Deputy Governor, Her Excellency Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, will resume work in their offices from 18 September 2025.”
The President urged all state governments and assemblies across the federation to uphold peaceful relations between the executive and legislature, stressing that democratic dividends can only be delivered in an atmosphere of stability and good governance.
