Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara returned to Port Harbor, the state capital, on Friday, September 19 2025, after a six‑month absence. He landed at Port Harbor International Airport at 12:19 p.m. and was greeted by a crowd of supporters gathered at the VIP wing. His arrival came a day after President Bola Tinubu lifted the state of emergency that had been imposed on Rivers State.
The emergency was declared by President Tinubu on March 18 2025, citing a political crisis that had left Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, unable to govern. During that period, retired Admiral Ibok‑Ete Ibas was sworn in as the sole administrator of the state and handed over power on Wednesday night.
The crisis originated months after Fubara’s inauguration in May 2023, when he fell out with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike—now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory—over control of the state. The dispute caused a division in the House of Assembly, with Speaker Martin Amaewhule caught in the middle. In June 2025, President Tinubu met with Fubara, Wike, and other stakeholders, signaling a possible reconciliation.
Despite criticisms, the sole administrator Ibas inaugurated the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, which oversaw local government elections on August 30. The All Progressives Congress won in 20 councils, while the Peoples Democratic Party secured three local government areas.
Fubara’s return is viewed as a significant development in Rivers State’s political landscape. The House of Assembly resumed sitting on Thursday, but the governor did not attend, even though hundreds of supporters gathered at Government House. Wike later clarified that Fubara was not legally required to resume duties that day.
The end of the state of emergency and Fubara’s reinstatement may mark a new beginning for the state. As he settles back into his role, he faces the task of rebuilding and moving Rivers State forward, while the international community watches closely as the region navigates this critical period in its history.
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