Fubara Set to Resume Governorship
Siminalayi Fubara was set to resume his role as Governor of Rivers State following the conclusion of the six-month emergency rule that had been imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu. The order, declared on March 18, 2025, was formally lifted by the President on Wednesday, and democratic institutions in the state were restored.
Restoration of Democratic Institutions
According to the presidential statement, the governor, his deputy Ngozi Odu, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly Martins Amaewhule, and other lawmakers were directed to return to their offices effective September 18, 2025. It was emphasized that the emergency would end at midnight, after which full democratic governance was expected to return.
Reasons for Lifting the Emergency
It was stated that improved conditions within the state informed the decision. A “new spirit of understanding” among political stakeholders was said to have been observed, alongside enthusiasm for a resumption of democratic governance. The President remarked that continuation of the emergency beyond the six-month period would have been unnecessary.
Sole Administration During Crisis
During the emergency, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.) had been appointed as Sole Administrator to manage the state. This was necessitated by the deep political crisis between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who now serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Roots of the Political Rift
When Fubara took office in May 2023, his position was widely perceived to have been facilitated by Wike. Their relationship soon deteriorated over questions of control, loyalty, and political structures ahead of the 2027 elections. By late 2023, the state House of Assembly had split, with the majority aligning with Wike while a smaller group supported Fubara. Attempts at impeachment were pursued, protests erupted, and violence occurred, including the burning of the Assembly building.
Peace Deal and Supreme Court Intervention
A peace deal brokered in December 2023 required Fubara to recognize the Wike-backed lawmakers who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Critics described the Abuja agreement as unconstitutional. Despite that, tensions persisted through parallel sittings, disputed budgets, and intimidation. The Supreme Court’s judgment of February 28, 2025, eventually recognized the Amaewhule-led Assembly as legitimate, ordering Fubara to re-present the 2024 budget while suspending federal allocations to the state. Local government elections conducted under his authority in October 2024 were also nullified.
Mounting Pressures and Sabotage Concerns
The decision left Fubara cornered, as the legislature pressed him to present the 2024 budget again despite the passage of a 2025 budget by his own loyalists. Ex-agitators threatened oil facilities when impeachment was raised against him. Matters worsened when explosions targeted oil pipelines in Bodo and Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni LGAs. These incidents, interpreted as sabotage in support of Fubara, raised concerns in Abuja.
Declaration of Emergency Rule
Given the threats to vital oil infrastructure, emergency rule was imposed on March 18, 2025. Democratic offices were suspended for six months, and Vice Admiral Ibas was placed in charge. While civil society groups, opposition leaders, and Rivers indigenes protested the suspension of democracy, the Presidency insisted that constitutional powers had been exercised to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
Presidential Justification for Action
In his recent address, the President reiterated that a total paralysis of governance had justified his action. He explained that vandalism of pipelines, alongside a legislature divided between four pro-Fubara lawmakers and 27 aligned against him, had left governance impossible. Intervention, he argued, became unavoidable.
Support and Legal Challenges
Approval for the measure was granted by the National Assembly, while traditional rulers and citizens were thanked for their cooperation. Legal challenges, numbering over 40, were filed in multiple cities, but it was emphasized that the constitutional provision for emergency declarations made the action valid.
Path to Reconciliation and Stability
The end of the rule was justified on grounds that reconciliation and improved stability had been observed. The President urged cooperation between branches of government, warning against a return to violence or political manipulation.
Perceived Winners
The President was portrayed as the primary victor, with his intervention credited for restoring order and safeguarding vital oil infrastructure. His stance was described as necessary to protect the economy, with vandalized pipelines quickly repaired after emergency measures took effect.
Politically, the APC benefited as well. The local government elections conducted under the Sole Administrator on August 30, 2025, produced victories for APC candidates in 20 out of 23 LGAs. This marked a major foothold for the party in a state once dominated by the PDP, positioning it more strongly ahead of 2027.
Nyesom Wike also emerged as a beneficiary. The Supreme Court ruling that validated the Amaewhule Assembly reinforced his influence, and the emergency rule preserved his relevance while preventing an immediate ouster of Fubara. With reconciliation facilitated by the President, his loyalists regained political positions. Statements released by his office celebrated the return of confidence in his leadership among Rivers residents.
Governor Fubara, though weakened, could also count himself among the survivors. By his own admission, the emergency rule prevented his impeachment and gave him a path back to office. His return, however, was seen as one marked by reduced authority, as many of his loyalists lost ground during the suspension.
Vice Admiral Ibas, who managed the state during its turbulent period, gained national recognition for stabilizing Rivers. His profile was elevated, with speculation that his administrative exposure could open doors for future political ambitions.
Perceived Losers
Among the losers was Rotimi Amaechi, former governor and Transport Minister, who had hoped Wike’s dominance would be broken during the crisis. Instead, the developments restored Wike’s control, leaving Amaechi further sidelined.
Fubara’s loyalists, particularly those who lost out in local government elections, also found themselves weakened. Political elders like Celestine Omehia, Uche Secondus, and Senator Lee Maeba, who supported Fubara during the crisis, were described as casualties of the realignment, with diminished relevance.
The faction led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, which included only three lawmakers, was effectively neutralized, as the Supreme Court and national authorities stood behind the Amaewhule faction.
Anticipation of Fubara’s Return
On the eve of his reinstatement, Fubara’s aides confirmed he would return Thursday to resume duties. The atmosphere in Port Harcourt was calm, though muted discussions occurred among residents. In his hometown of Opobo-Nkoro, locals awaited his return with uncertainty about how much influence he would retain. Some supporters prepared to welcome him, while others doubted his capacity to govern independently.
Stakeholders gave mixed reactions. Elder statesman Sunny Chukumele dismissed the return as hollow, describing it as a “journey back to Egypt” since control of the state had already shifted to Wike. Others, such as Ogbonna Nwuke, expressed hope that stalled projects would resume and that collaboration between the legislature and executive would be possible. Civil rights advocate Omenazu Jackson emphasized the need for peace and respect for the governor’s office, urging reconciliation among political actors.
Security Disputes
A protest erupted at the Government House on Wednesday morning when security operatives attached to the seat of power demanded allowances they claimed had been withheld for six months. The personnel, mainly Civil Defence officers, accused the administration of neglect and threatened to lock the premises. Videos circulated online showed them vowing to block the Sole Administrator’s convoy. The situation was eventually calmed by senior officials, and Ibas departed for Abuja without further incident.
Legal Questions
Legal practitioners insisted that the constitutionality of the emergency rule must still be addressed by the Supreme Court, even though the six months had lapsed. Olalekan Ojo, SAN, argued that fundamental constitutional questions remained unresolved. He cited precedents from Plateau State in 2004, where similar matters were adjudicated despite expiration of the emergency.
It was suggested that a ruling could have financial implications, including repayment of salaries for suspended officials if the declaration were invalidated. Beyond that, clarity on the scope of presidential powers was considered necessary for the future.
The PDP’s legal adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, emphasized that the case was never about Fubara personally, but about constitutional interpretation. Counsel for the Attorney-General, Akin Olujinmi, SAN, also argued that the Supreme Court retained jurisdiction, pointing again to precedents.
Closing Outlook
With the end of emergency rule, Rivers State was expected to return fully to democratic governance. A renewed sense of hope was being embraced as institutions were restored and stability was placed before the people. Confidence was being expressed that democratic processes would once again guide leadership and strengthen governance in line with the will of citizens.
Optimism was being encouraged, even as attention was drawn to the balance of influence between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. It was being widely believed that peaceful coexistence could be achieved if reconciliation was promoted and rivalry set aside. Hopes were being placed on leaders and their supporters to rise above division and commit to the greater good of the state.
The President’s intervention was being commended for averting deeper crisis and safeguarding stability when governance was threatened. His decision to conclude the emergency within the promised timeframe was being welcomed as a sign of respect for constitutional order and democratic values.
Across Rivers, the development was being received with relief and expectation. Civic groups were urging unity, while citizens were hopeful that stalled projects would be resumed and progress restored.
Rivers State was being positioned for a future defined by peace, stability, and democratic growth.