President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has lifted the six-month state of emergency in Rivers State, declaring that the intervention successfully prevented a “colossal failure” of leadership.
The emergency rule was first imposed on March 18, 2025, after a political standoff between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly crippled governance and triggered vandalism of state assets.
Explaining his decision, Tinubu said the deadlock between the executive and legislature necessitated invoking Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution.
“It would have been a colossal failure on my part as President not to have made that proclamation,” he said, noting that the measure stopped Rivers from descending into anarchy.
Under the emergency order, Governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Nma Odu, Speaker Martins Amaewhule, and all lawmakers were suspended for six months. Tinubu described the move as a constitutional safeguard to restore peace and stability.
The President commended the National Assembly for swiftly approving the proclamation and praised traditional rulers and residents of Rivers State for their cooperation. He also noted that while some legal challenges were filed against the measure, they reflected the resilience of Nigeria’s democracy.
Tinubu said fresh intelligence reports show a “new spirit of understanding” among political actors in Rivers. He confirmed that Fubara, Odu, Amaewhule, and all lawmakers will resume their offices on September 18, 2025.