President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally announced the cessation of the state of emergency in Rivers State, six months after it was declared to restore order, governance, and security in the oil-rich state.
In a national broadcast on today, President Tinubu recalled that the emergency proclamation was made on March 18, 2025, in response to what he described as “a total paralysis of governance” in Rivers State. The crisis stemmed from a bitter standoff between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the State House of Assembly, which split into two rival factions , four lawmakers aligning with the Governor and 27 backing Speaker Martins Amaewhule. The impasse left the state without an approved budget, crippled service delivery and worsened insecurity, including the vandalisation of vital oil assets.
Tinubu explained that despite several interventions from the Presidency and respected stakeholders, both sides refused to shift ground. Even the Supreme Court, in one of its rulings on the multiple suits filed by the warring factions, held that “there was no government in Rivers State.” The President said it became “painfully inevitable” to invoke Section 305 of the Constitution to proclaim the emergency, which temporarily suspended the offices of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and elected legislators for six months.
Expressing gratitude to the National Assembly for its swift approval and to Rivers people for their cooperation, Tinubu acknowledged dissenting voices that challenged the proclamation in court, describing such legal resistance as part of democratic culture.
“Today, I am glad to report that intelligence at my disposal shows a renewed spirit of understanding, readiness, and commitment among all stakeholders in Rivers State for an immediate return to democratic governance,” the President stated.
Effective midnight, September 17, 2025, the emergency rule will be lifted, paving the way for Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Nma Odu, Speaker Martins Amaewhule, and all suspended lawmakers to resume their offices.
Tinubu urged political leaders across Nigeria to learn from the Rivers crisis and prioritize peace, stability, and collaboration between the executive and legislative arms of government.
“It is only in an atmosphere of peace, order, and good government that we can deliver the dividends of democracy to our people,” the President said, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to protecting democratic institutions.
The decision marks a new chapter in Rivers State’s political trajectory and signals the federal government’s confidence in the ability of the state’s leadership to reconcile and govern effectively.
