President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially lifted the six-month-long state of emergency in Rivers State, paving the way for Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly to return to office.
Tinubu made the announcement in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday night, declaring that “with effect from midnight today, the emergency in Rivers State shall end.”
The President explained that the intervention, declared on 18 March 2025, became necessary after bitter political battles between Governor Fubara and the State Assembly stalled governance and threatened peace in the oil-rich state.
The Rivers political feud had crippled budget approvals and left major economic assets exposed. Tinubu said his decision, backed by Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, was meant to prevent a total collapse of order.
“In moments like that, as President, I could not stand by while the state drifted into anarchy,” he said.
The suspension of the governor, deputy, and lawmakers in March triggered heated debates nationwide. Some supported the move as a stabilising step, while others went to court to challenge what they called an overreach of federal power.
Tinubu noted that tensions have cooled, with political actors in Rivers showing “a new spirit of understanding.” From September 18, Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Odu, and Speaker Martins Amaewhule with his colleagues are expected to return to their official duties.
The President thanked the National Assembly, traditional rulers, and the people of Rivers for their patience during the emergency. He also used the moment to caution state leaders across the country on the need for unity.
“It is only in an atmosphere of peace and order that we can deliver the dividends of democracy,” Tinubu said.
