Rivers State emergency rule ends as Fubara resumes office, sparking fresh debates over democracy, governance, and party loyalty
Rivers State emergency rule is expected to come to an end tomorrow as Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly prepare to return to office.
Also read: House Approves Rivers State 2025 Budget amid Emergency Rule
Their reinstatement follows the scheduled expiry of the six-month emergency rule imposed on March 18, 2025, amid a political crisis that rocked the state’s democratic institutions.
President Bola Tinubu, who returned early from a 10-day vacation abroad, is expected to make an official proclamation terminating the emergency rule.
His swift return has further fuelled anticipation across political circles and civil society, as Rivers awaits the restoration of its elected leadership.
The sole administrator appointed during the interim period, Vice Admiral Ibok Ette Ibas (rtd.), has finalised handover protocols, hosted a thanksgiving service, and urged citizens to preserve the peace restored under his six-month tenure.
At a public lecture titled Good Governance and Democratic Dividends, Ibas described the emergency rule as a “necessary” but difficult chapter in the state’s history.
“It was not a choice—it was a necessity brought upon us by insecurity, political impasse, and breakdown of trust,” he said.
He highlighted achievements under his watch, including peaceful local government elections and the restoration of security.
“The stability we have restored is the foundation upon which democracy is now rebuilt,” Ibas added.
Despite his statements, reactions remain sharply divided. Civil society groups, opposition parties, and constitutional experts have continued to question both the necessity and legality of the emergency declaration, which many argue breached Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.
Section 305 of the Constitution outlines strict criteria for declaring emergency rule, none of which, critics argue, were met in Rivers.
Furthermore, the suspension of elected officials under emergency provisions has been widely condemned as unconstitutional.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under which Fubara was elected, welcomed his return but warned against defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
PDP legal adviser Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha called for accountability: “He must investigate how Rivers State was governed during the emergency period. His loyalty to the PDP must not be in doubt.”
Similarly, PDP youth leader Timothy Osadolor insisted that justice must prevail.
“There is no peace without justice. The governor must interrogate the six months Admiral Ibas spent in office, including all financial activities,” he said.
Not all are optimistic. Chief Peter Ameh of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) described Fubara’s return as “a surrender to federal might,” warning that he may now be a governor “in name only,” heavily influenced by his political godfather, Nyesom Wike, and allies in Abuja.
Chekwas Okorie, founding chairman of APGA, went further, stating that the people of Rivers were the true victims.
“Governor Fubara gave up too much. Governance may suffer unless he finds his political backbone,” he said.
Others argue that the emergency rule was a product of personal political conflict rather than public danger.
Public affairs commentator Israel Edache described it as “a sad reminder that godfatherism still plagues our democracy.”
As Rivers prepares for the return of its elected government, the mood is a mixture of cautious optimism and hardened scepticism.
While some residents see it as a new beginning, others fear more political compromises and further erosion of democratic norms.
The Rivers State Elders Council has urged all stakeholders to prioritise unity and reconciliation.
“We must put aside our divisions and allow Governor Fubara and the House of Assembly to work together without distractions,” said chairman Chief Ferdinand Alabraba.
Also read: Rivers State Elders Hail Political Reconciliation, Urge Unity
Still, the road ahead is uncertain. For Governor Fubara, the next few months could determine whether he governs with true independence or remains in the shadow of those who once backed him.
