Breaking: “Tinubu Ends Rivers State Emergency: Fubara and Assembly Back in Power After Six Months”

Nigeria’s political spotlight shifted firmly to Rivers State today as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu officially announced the end of the six-month state of emergency that had suspended democratic governance in the oil-rich state.

In a statehouse address on Tuesday, the President declared that the intervention, which began on March 18, 2025, had run its course and would terminate at midnight on September 17, 2025. Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Nma Odu, Speaker Martins Amaewhule, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly are to immediately return to their offices from Wednesday, September 18.

The declaration brings to an end one of the most turbulent political episodes in Rivers State’s history — a crisis that saw executive and legislative powers clash in a way that crippled governance, stalled budgets, and drew national attention. Tinubu, in his speech, reminded the nation that the situation in Rivers had deteriorated so badly that even the Supreme Court had held in its judgment that “there was no government in Rivers State.”

The President recounted how his earlier mediation efforts and those of other leaders failed as both factions entrenched themselves. On one side stood Governor Fubara with four loyal lawmakers, while on the other were 27 House members aligned with Speaker Amaewhule. The stalemate left Rivers without an appropriation bill, blocked access to state funds, and opened the way for vandalism of critical oil assets.

Faced with what he called a “total paralysis of governance,” Tinubu invoked Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, declaring the state of emergency and suspending both the executive and legislative arms for six months. The move sparked wide debate across Nigeria, with over 40 lawsuits filed to challenge the proclamation in Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Yenagoa. But the National Assembly quickly ratified the decision, and the President insisted at the time that the measure was necessary to save the state from sliding into full-blown anarchy.

Today, Tinubu sounded a different note — one of cautious optimism. He told Nigerians that intelligence reaching him confirmed a “new spirit of understanding, a robust readiness, and potent enthusiasm” among stakeholders in Rivers to put aside differences and return to the business of governance.

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

He expressed gratitude to traditional rulers, community leaders, and residents of Rivers State for their patience and support during the six-month suspension. He also acknowledged dissenting voices who went to court, describing their actions as part of the healthy democratic process.

The return of Governor Fubara and the Assembly will now test whether the truce can hold or if old divisions will resurface. The President was clear in his advice: only harmony between executive and legislature can allow Rivers people to feel the dividends of democracy. He warned that “violence, anarchy, and insecurity borne by misguided political activism and Machiavellian manipulations” must never be allowed to replace governance.

For many in Rivers State, the end of the emergency opens a new chapter, but one still clouded by questions. Will the warring camps truly embrace dialogue? Can the resumption of constitutional governance translate to peace on the ground? And will long-stalled budgets and projects finally move forward?

As Nigerians watch closely, the stakes remain high. Rivers is not just any state; it is a key economic hub with strategic oil and gas assets that feed directly into national revenue. Any instability in its governance hits the entire country.

For now, though, the message from Abuja is clear: the six-month constitutional freeze is over, and Rivers must walk the path of peace and development.

BigChiefVibes will continue to track how this dramatic chapter unfolds and how the return of Governor Fubara and the State Assembly shapes the future of Rivers politics.

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Ekpu Code:

“When power is suspended, the people suffer; when peace returns, the people must rise to protect it.”