President Bola Tinubu recently lifted the six-month emergency rule previously imposed on Rivers State, marking a significant development in the state's protracted political crisis. The emergency rule, which commenced on March 18, 2025, had seen Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly suspended, with Vice-Admiral Ibot Ekwe Ibas (retd) appointed as the Sole Administrator. This intervention was a direct response to the intense feud between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, now Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, a conflict that had threatened peace and security in the oil-rich state.

Despite President Tinubu's directive for Governor Fubara and other suspended officials to resume duties following the emergency rule's expiration, Governor Fubara's public absence has sparked considerable concern and speculation. While members of the Rivers State House of Assembly convened plenary sessions promptly, neither Fubara nor his deputy was seen in public. Supporters, including members of the “Simplified Movement” and recently sacked local government chairmen, had gathered at the Government House in Port Harcourt to welcome the governor, but eventually dispersed after hours of waiting in vain. Some analyses suggested Fubara deliberately avoided a public return to avoid implicitly endorsing the contentious six-month emergency rule, especially given that its legality is still under judicial review by the Supreme Court and the ECOWAS Court of Justice.

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike addressed the controversy surrounding Governor Fubara's absence in an interview with Channels TV, asserting that no law compels a governor to immediately resume physical office duties. Wike emphasized that governance is not restricted to being physically present in the office, stating, “Governance does not mean you must be in the office governing, no, it is not true. Do you know whether he is in Abuja doing one thing or the other?” He dismissed being Fubara's “protocol officer” or “Chief Security Officer,” implying his non-responsibility for the governor's whereabouts. Crucially, Wike also announced a reconciliation with Fubara, revealing they had recently spoken on the telephone. He declared, “I can’t speak with a man I’ve not forgiven. As of yesterday, I spoke with the governor... So I can tell you peace has come.” Wike further commended President Tinubu for his “courageous intervention” in lifting the state of emergency, describing the move as one that restored calm and peace to Rivers State. He reiterated his straightforward approach to politics, stating, “If I tell you peace has come, then peace has truly come.”

The six-month emergency rule itself was not without controversy. Critics argued that President Tinubu's suspension of a democratically elected governor and the declaration of a state of emergency were contrary to Section 305 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended. Questions were also raised regarding the Senate's approval process, with some stakeholders asserting that the constitutional requirement of a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly's 469 legislators for approving a state of emergency was not properly followed, especially concerning the use of voice votes. Furthermore, leaders of the Ijaw Youth Council, Eastern Zone, even dragged the Federal Government before the ECOWAS Court of Justice, challenging the legality of the governor's suspension and the emergency declaration.

Following the restoration of democratic structures, the Rivers State House of Assembly, convening plenary at their temporary legislative quarters due to the demolition of the main complex, took immediate legislative action. Led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, the lawmakers resolved to probe the state's finances during the six-month tenure of Vice-Admiral Ibot Ekwe Ibas as Sole Administrator. House Leader Major Jack stated that the investigation would ascertain what transpired regarding contract awards and expenditures from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, demanding accountability for all monies received from internally generated revenue and federal allocations. Opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and African Democratic Congress (ADC), had previously called for such a probe. However, some, like PDP chieftain Austin Okai, expressed skepticism about Governor Fubara's political will to initiate such an investigation, suggesting it might be perceived as challenging federal authority or probing Wike himself. In addition to the probe, the House of Assembly urged Governor Fubara to immediately transmit the 2025 appropriation bill for legislative consideration and forward a list of commissioner-nominees for screening and confirmation.

While Wike has publicly declared peace and reconciliation, and the State House of Assembly has resumed its legislative functions, the political landscape in Rivers State remains under observation. The governor's precise whereabouts and the underlying terms of the peace agreement reportedly brokered by President Tinubu (which allegedly included Fubara forgoing a second term bid and allowing Wike to nominate local government chairpersons) continue to be subjects of discussion. Nevertheless, the lifting of the emergency rule and the public declarations of reconciliation signal a crucial step towards political stability in the state.