Siminalayi Fubara today resumes office as Governor of Rivers State following the end of the six-month emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025. The President announced the termination of the rule on Wednesday, restoring democratic governance in the oil-rich state.
According to a statement from the Presidency, Governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and Speaker Martins Amaewhule, alongside members of the State House of Assembly, are to resume their official duties from September 18, 2025. Tinubu said the decision was informed by improved peace, reconciliation among political stakeholders, and a “groundswell of new spirit of understanding” in the state.
The emergency rule was imposed in March after escalating political tensions between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The crisis saw the Rivers Assembly split, impeachment threats, violent protests, and vandalism of vital oil pipelines—key to Nigeria’s economy. To prevent further breakdown of law and order, Tinubu suspended democratic institutions and appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.) as Sole Administrator.
The intervention sparked nationwide debate, with critics calling it unconstitutional. However, Tinubu insisted it was necessary to safeguard governance and protect critical oil infrastructure. The suspension, now lifted, paved the way for the APC to gain significant political ground in Rivers, with victories in local government elections.
As Fubara returns, analysts warn his influence may be curtailed by Wike’s entrenched political machinery. Stakeholders, however, have urged cooperation between the executive and legislature to restore stability and ensure good governance.
