President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially announced the cessation of the state of emergency in Rivers State, six months after its proclamation.
In a nationwide address on Wednesday, the President recalled that the emergency was declared on March 18, 2025, following a paralysis of governance in the state. He explained that the political impasse between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the State House of Assembly had crippled governance, with the Assembly divided into two rival camps. While four members backed the Governor, 27 supported the Speaker, preventing the passage of the Appropriation Bill and effectively stalling the state’s administration.
Tinubu noted that despite interventions from himself and other stakeholders, the crisis persisted, prompting him to invoke Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to suspend the offices of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and the State Assembly for six months. He expressed appreciation to the National Assembly for approving the proclamation, as well as to traditional rulers and the people of Rivers State for their cooperation during the period.
Acknowledging dissenting voices, the President said over 40 legal challenges were filed against the declaration in courts across Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Yenagoa. He stressed, however, that the action was a constitutional necessity to restore peace and order, given the Supreme Court’s ruling that Rivers had no functioning government at the time. Tinubu emphasized that harmony between the executive and legislature remains crucial for democracy to thrive, warning against political manipulation and conflict that deny citizens the dividends of governance.
