In a landmark move to restore democratic order, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially lifted the state of emergency in Rivers State after six tumultuous months. With the emergency period coming to a close at midnight on September 17, 2025, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Nma Odu, Speaker Martins Amaewhule, and the full complement of state legislators are set to resume their constitutional roles as of September 18.
Background: What Led to the Emergency Rule
On March 18, 2025, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State. The action was prompted by a prolonged political impasse. In particular, a bitter standoff between Governor Fubara and a significant faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly—aligned with the Speaker Martins Amaewhule—had stalled governance. Legislative business was obstructed; key budget approvals were not passed; the passage of laws was blocked.
At the same time, security challenges in the oil-rich Niger Delta region—especially vandalism of pipelines including incidents along the Trans Niger Pipeline—added urgency. The executive arm claimed that the governor had not acted decisively to curb these disruptions.
The Supreme Court had, amid these disputes, ruled at least once that Rivers State was in a state of constitutional paralysis—effectively saying there was “no government” functioning properly due to the legislative-executive deadlock.
In response, Tinubu, invoking Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution, suspended the elected governor, the deputy governor, and all lawmakers, appointing Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Retired) as Sole Administrator of Rivers State for the emergency period. The National Assembly endorsed the emergency proclamation.
Why Lifting the Emergency Now?
President Tinubu’s decision to end the emergency rule is based on several developments:
1. Improved Stakeholder Relations: Intelligence reports indicate a “groundswell of a new spirit of understanding, robust readiness, and potent enthusiasm” among political actors in Rivers State to restore democratic governance. The rift between the executive and legislative branches has softened, enabling prospects for cooperation.
2. Accomplishing Intended Objectives: Tinubu stated there was no reason for the emergency measure to persist beyond its six-month term, given that the crisis precipitating it has, by official accounts, eased.
3. Legal and Constitutional Pressure: Over 40 cases were filed in courts across Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Yenagoa challenging the emergency declaration. Although many of those remain pending, the legal pressure added impetus for resolution.
4. Restoring Democracy and Public Confidence: The prolonged suspension of elected officials has drawn criticism from civil society and opposition groups. Restoring governance is seen as essential not only for political legitimacy but also for operational stability—financial budgeting, public services, and oil sector management.
What Comes Next: Key Reinstatements & Expected Challenges
Effective September 18, 2025, Governor Fubara and Deputy Governor Odu will resume their executive offices; Martins Amaewhule will return as Speaker; all 31 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly will be reinstated.
The presidency has publicly urged all political actors—including the Governor, Assembly members, and other stakeholders—to set aside past hostilities and commit to peace, collaboration, and good governance for the benefit of Rivers State residents.
Challenges remain: mistrust between factions, possible legal leftovers from the emergency period, and ensuring that pipeline security, budget appropriation, and legislative functions resume smoothly. Oversight and accountability will be critical.
Implications: What This Means for Nigeria
Democracy and federalism: The event sets an important precedent about the scope and limits of presidential emergency powers, especially when these powers affect elected state governments. Observers will watch for how the courts address the unresolved cases to see how Nigeria’s constitutional architecture copes with such stress.
Oil and Economy: Rivers State plays a central role in Nigeria’s oil industry. Vandalism of pipelines not only impact production but also foreign exchange and revenue. A stable governance structure improves the prospects for securing those oil installations and restoring investor confidence.
Political Messaging: For President Tinubu, lifting the emergency is both a concession to rule-of-law concerns and an opportunity to show responsiveness. It signals that extraordinary measures will be dialled back when conditions normalize.
The lifting of the emergency rule in Rivers State marks a turning point. What began as an attempt to prevent further breakdown of state governance, mirrored by legal contentions and oil-sector instability, will now shift to opportunities for reconciliation, coordinated governance, and renewed democratic functioning. How well the actors involved seize this moment—to heal divisions, to protect state assets, and to serve citizens—will define this episode’s real legacy.
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