Jubilant scenes erupted in Port Harcourt on Thursday as thousands of Rivers State residents thronged the Government House to welcome Governor Siminalayi Fubara back to office following the suspension of emergency rule in the state.
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday announced the lifting of the six-month emergency measure imposed in March at the peak of the political crisis between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The decision reinstated Governor Fubara, his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who were also affected by the suspension.
As early as 8 a.m., supporters from across the state began arriving at the Government House precinct. Many were seen carrying traditional musical instruments, dancing, and chanting solidarity songs in celebration of the governor’s return. The atmosphere was described as carnival-like, with residents expressing relief over the restoration of normal governance.
Security operatives, however, maintained heavy presence at strategic locations around the city and within the Government House to forestall any potential breakdown of law and order.
Also see: Rivers Assembly Resumes Sitting After Six-Month Emergency Rule Ends
The emergency rule, declared on March 18, 2025, had been widely criticized by opposition leaders and civil society groups as a constitutional overreach that undermined democratic governance in the state. The suspension has now paved the way for political reconciliation and renewed calls for peace among the state’s political actors.
Governor Fubara is expected to address the people formally in the coming days as his administration resumes duties fully after what many residents described as “a long and difficult period of uncertainty.”
