ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday declared the end of the state of emergency imposed on Rivers State, restoring democratic governance after six months of suspended rule in one of Nigeria’s most politically combustible regions.
The announcement, delivered in a nationally broadcast address from the State House in Abuja, marks the return of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Nma Odu, and Speaker Martins Amaewhule’s Assembly, who resume office on September 18.
Tinubu said the measure, first imposed on March 18, 2025, was “painfully inevitable” to halt a constitutional collapse that left Rivers paralysed by an intractable feud between Fubara and 27 Assembly members loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.
“From the intelligence available to me, there is a groundswell of a new spirit of understanding, a robust readiness, and potent enthusiasm on the part of all the stakeholders in Rivers State for an immediate return to democratic governance,” Tinubu said.
Why It Matters
The return of Rivers’ elected officials reopens critical questions around governance, oil security, and Nigeria’s federal balance of power.
- Oil Lifeline: Rivers hosts vital oil pipelines and export terminals; months of emergency administration raised tensions with unions and local communities.
- Political Fallout: The PDP faces a renewed civil war between Wike and Fubara camps ahead of the 2027 elections.
- Judicial Precedent: The Supreme Court’s earlier declaration that Rivers had “no government” underscores the fragility of Nigeria’s state institutions.
Timeline of the Crisis
- March 18, 2025: Tinubu invokes Section 305 of the Constitution, suspends Governor, Deputy, and Assembly.
- April–August 2025: Over 40 court cases filed against the proclamation in Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Yenagoa.
- September 17, 2025: Six-month emergency expires; Tinubu declines extension.
The Road Ahead
Fubara returns to Government House, Port Harcourt, facing the same hostile Assembly that triggered the collapse in March. Whether Tinubu’s gamble restores stability or merely delays another confrontation will shape Rivers’ role in Nigeria’s democracy.
Tinubu, in his closing words, warned state executives and legislators nationwide:
“It is only in an atmosphere of peace, order, and good government that we can deliver the dividends of democracy to our people.”
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