By Joe Udo
ABUJA (CONVERSEER) – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the end of the six-month state of emergency in Rivers State, restoring Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly to office.
The declaration, which formally expires today, 17 September 2025, was proclaimed on 18 March 2025 following months of political crisis between the executive and legislative arms of the state government.
Background to the Emergency
Tinubu, in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, recalled that his intervention was compelled by what he described as a “total paralysis of governance” in Rivers State.
The governor and a faction of four lawmakers had been at loggerheads with 27 members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule. The political stalemate prevented the passage of an appropriation bill, leaving the state unable to access funds.
The president noted that the Supreme Court, in one of its rulings, had also held that “there was no government in Rivers State” due to the impasse. Efforts to reconcile the factions, he said, failed, prompting him to invoke Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to declare emergency rule.
Under the proclamation, the offices of the governor, deputy governor, and the state legislature were suspended for six months, with the National Assembly approving the decision.
Tinubu’s Remarks
Tinubu said the measure was necessary to avert a drift into anarchy and safeguard critical economic assets, including oil pipelines, which were under threat.
“I am happy today that, 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,” he stated.
The president added that governance must always be anchored on harmony between the executive and legislative arms. “The people who voted us into power expect to reap the fruits of democracy. That expectation will remain unrealizable in an atmosphere of violence, anarchy, and insecurity,” he said.
Return to Democratic Governance
With the lifting of the proclamation, Fubara, Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly are to resume their offices from 18 September 2025.
Tinubu urged leaders across the country to learn from the crisis in Rivers State and prioritise peace, order, and good governance in delivering the dividends of democracy.
“I implore all of you to let this realisation drive your actions at all times,” the president said.
