Breaking News: President Tinubu Lifts State of Emergency in Rivers State, Restores Democratic Governance

President Bola Tinubu has announced the end of the six-month state of emergency imposed on Rivers State, declaring that democratic governance will fully resume in the state from September 18, 2025.

The President made the declaration in a nationwide broadcast on Wednesday ,noting that the emergency measure, proclaimed on March 18, 2025, was necessary to halt what he described as a “total paralysis of governance” in the state.

At the time of the proclamation, a deep rift between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly had brought government activities to a standstill. 

The crisis saw four lawmakers aligned with the governor while 27 backed Speaker Martins Amaewhule, leaving the governor unable to present appropriation bills or access funds for state administration. The Supreme Court, in one of its rulings on the matter, also observed that there was effectively “no government” in Rivers State.

President Tinubu said the decision to suspend the offices of the governor, deputy governor, and all members of the State House of Assembly for six months was a painful but necessary step to restore order and safeguard critical assets, including oil pipelines, from further disruption.

“I was obligated to invoke the powers conferred on me by Section 305 of the Constitution to proclaim the state of emergency. It would have been a colossal failure on my part as President not to have acted,” Tinubu stated.

He expressed gratitude to the National Assembly for promptly approving the proclamation.