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Emergency Rule Ends In Rivers State As Tinubu Reinstates Fubara, Legislators

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu

The much- touted State of Emergency imposed in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu ends by midnight on Wednesday, September 17., 2025. 

With the unfolding development, Tinubu has reinstated the suspended Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, the deputy governor, Ngozi Nma Odu; members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the speaker, Martins Amaewhule. 

They are expected to resume in their offices on Thursday, September 18, as contained in a statement endorsed by Tinubu on Wednesday. 

It reads: "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.

"This is undoubtedly a welcome development for me and a remarkable achievement for us. I therefore do not see why the state of emergency should exist a day longer than the six months I had pronounced at the beginning of it.

"It therefore gives me great pleasure to declare that the emergency in Rivers State of Nigeria shall end with effect from midnight today. 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."

Tinubu reminded the 36 state governors and the entire legislators in the country that it is only in an atmosphere of peace, order, and good governance that the government can deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians. 

In the Beginning 
President Tinubu had on Tuesday,  March 18, 2025, during a nationwide broadcast declared a State of emergency in Rivers State. 

This followed the deepened political crisis between supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. 
By the declaration, the President suspended Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State for an initial period of six months.

He said: "In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State and the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State having failed to make a request to me as President to issue this proclamation as required by section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, 18th  March, 2025 and I so do."
To that effect, the President also replaced Fubara with Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state. 

"In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State. For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate," he added.

News Rider reports that Tinubu had on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, while addressing representatives and leaders of the Niger Delta under the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) in Abuja called for ceasefire given the political tension in the state. 



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