President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday announced the end of the six-month state-of-emergency in Rivers State, paving the way for Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly to return to office.
In a nationwide broadcast from the State House, the President said the emergency rule, which was declared on March 18, 2025, was necessary to halt what he described as a “total paralysis of governance” in the oil-rich state.
Tinubu recalled that deep political divisions between the governor and the State Assembly had crippled the government, with the House split between four members loyal to Fubara and 27 others who opposed him under Speaker Martins Amaewhule.
The crisis, he said made it impossible for the governor to present an appropriation bill, leaving the state without access to funds.
“Even the Supreme Court, in one of its judgments, held that there was no government in Rivers State,” Tinubu said, noting that several interventions failed to resolve the impasse before the declaration of emergency became inevitable.
The President explained that the decision, taken under Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), was approved by the National Assembly and initially suspended the offices of the governor, deputy governor, and elected lawmakers for six months.
He acknowledged opposition to the move, including over 40 lawsuits filed across Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Yenagoa, but insisted the step was constitutionally valid and necessary to prevent a slide into anarchy.
According to him, recent developments and intelligence reports indicate “a groundswell of a new spirit of understanding” among stakeholders in Rivers State, creating conditions for the restoration of democratic governance.
“With effect from midnight today, the emergency in Rivers State shall end,” 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, including the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, will resume work in their offices from September 18, 2025.”
The President urged Rivers leaders and politicians nationwide to prioritize peace and cooperation between the executive and legislative arms of government to deliver the dividends of democracy.
