Tinubu Lifts State of Emergency in Rivers, Restores Governor, Assembly 

Tinubu Lifts State of Emergency in Rivers, Restores Governor, Assembly 

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday declared an end to 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 their offices.

In a statement, Tinubu said the emergency rule, which was proclaimed on March 18, 2025, had achieved its purpose of restoring peace and stability in the oil-rich state.

“It 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 announced.

The President recalled that the intervention was inevitable at a time when governance in Rivers had ground to a halt due to the crisis between the governor and the state legislature.

“There was a total paralysis of governance in Rivers State, which had led to the Governor and the House of Assembly being unable to work together. Even the Supreme Court, in one of its judgments, held that there was no government in Rivers State,” Tinubu said.

The President explained that his decision was guided by Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the President to declare a state of emergency in cases of actual or threatened breakdown of public order and safety.

“It would have been a colossal failure on my part as President not to have made that proclamation,” he said.

Tinubu, however, acknowledged dissenting voices, noting that over 40 legal cases were filed in different courts against the emergency rule.

“That is the way it should be in a democratic setting,” he observed, adding that the proclamation was nonetheless a constitutional safeguard to restore order.

He thanked the National Assembly for promptly approving the declaration, as well as traditional rulers and citizens of Rivers State for their cooperation.

He also urged political actors in the state to embrace reconciliation and put the people’s welfare above personal interests.

“As a stakeholder in democratic governance, I believe that the need for a harmonious existence and relationship between the executive and the legislature is key to a successful government, whether at the state or national level,” he said.

Looking ahead, the President reminded governors and lawmakers across the country that peace and stability were indispensable to the delivery of democratic dividends.

“I implore all of you to let this realisation drive your actions at all times,” he charged.

With the lifting of the emergency, Rivers State now returns to constitutional governance after six months of federal oversight.