On April 11, 2025, hundreds of women in Rivers State marched toward the State Government House in Port Harcourt, demanding the reinstatement of Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, the lifting of a state of emergency, and a return to democratic governance, according to a post on X.
The protest, documented at 11:16 a.m. local time, featured women carrying signs with messages such as “Reinstate Our Peace Icon” and “Bring Back Fubara.” The march, tagged with hashtags like #RwusPrayerWalk, also highlighted a spiritual element, with participants calling for an end to the emergency rule imposed on March 18, 2025.
President Bola Tinubu declared the state of emergency in the oil-rich Niger Delta state, citing political instability and pipeline vandalism, including a blast on the Trans-Niger Pipeline. The declaration suspended Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the state House of Assembly for six months, appointing retired Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator, according to a statement from the State House in Abuja.
The emergency rule, set to last until Sept. 18, 2025, has sparked widespread controversy. Critics, including some PDP governors, have called for a Supreme Court review of its constitutionality. Fubara, in a press statement on March 19, criticized the move, saying his administration had worked to maintain stability.
The women’s protest is part of broader unrest in Rivers State. On April 3, Nigerians in the U.S., under the Democratic Movement, planned a rally at the White House to oppose the emergency rule, describing it as a “direct assault on democracy,” according to various local media. Locally, the ‘Take It Back’ Movement also faced police action during protests, The Port City News noted. Chisom Gbali, a commissioner under Fubara, alleged on April 7 that former Gov. Nyesom Wike, now the Federal Capital Territory minister, was orchestrating efforts to extend the emergency rule, possibly linked to 2027 elections, news outlets reported.
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It bears mentioning that no immediate official response to the April 11 protest was available, but public sentiment on X showed mixed reactions. Some users praised the women’s action, while others criticized the delay in organizing such demonstrations.
