Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has confirmed that suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and members of the state House of Assembly will return to office on September 18, 2025, when the six-month state of emergency declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu officially lapses.
Wike made the announcement on Saturday, August 30, after casting his vote in the Local Government Area (LGA) elections in Rivers. “By September 18, the state of emergency will expire… the governor and state assembly will come back to their job,” he told reporters, stressing that the peaceful conduct of the polls proved that “the coast is clear.”
Tinubu had imposed emergency rule on March 18, suspending Fubara, his deputy, and the Assembly amid a deepening political crisis. Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Retd.) was appointed as Sole Administrator to run the state during the period.
Wike praised the elections as free and peaceful, with materials arriving on time and voters casting their ballots without incident. He noted that the exercise restored grassroots leadership after the Supreme Court nullified the October 2024 local government polls earlier conducted by the state electoral commission.
The minister emphasized that September 18 will mark Rivers’ return to democratic governance at both state and local levels. “The state government has its representative and the local government has its representatives,” he said, underscoring the importance of representation in stabilizing the state.
Fubara’s reinstatement is expected to restore policy-making, unlock federal allocations, and revive stalled developmental projects. Analysts believe it could also reset the political climate in Rivers, which has been tense following the prolonged feud between Wike and his successor.
As the countdown to September 18 begins, residents remain cautiously hopeful that the reinstatement will calm tensions and pave the way for political stability ahead of the 2027 governorship race.