Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, along with his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, and the 32-member House of Assembly, are slated to return to office on September 18, marking the end of a six-month emergency rule imposed by President Bola Tinubu. This significant development follows a period of intense political and security challenges that had brought the oil-rich region to a standstill.

The political turmoil stemmed from escalating tensions between Governor Fubara and the former governor of the state, Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). President Tinubu had on March 18, 2025, declared an emergency rule, suspending the state's executive and legislative arms. The President cited the inability of the state's populace to access the dividends of democracy due to the crisis as a primary reason for his intervention.

During his broadcast declaring the emergency rule, President Tinubu emphasized that no responsible leader could allow such a grave situation to persist. He invoked Section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to implement extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order, and security in Rivers State. Following this declaration, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd) was appointed as the Sole Administrator to oversee the state's affairs for the six-month period.

As part of the transition, Administrator Ibas has been directed to submit a comprehensive handover note before his 10-day vacation concludes. This document is expected to detail all funds inherited from Governor Fubara, revenues accrued during the emergency rule, their sources, expenditures made, and the projects those funds were channeled into, complete with clear specifications.

Governor Fubara's reinstatement is conditional on several agreements. He is expected to commit to not seeking re-election in 2027, serving out his current term without further political disruption. Furthermore, Fubara has reportedly accepted Nyesom Wike’s leadership and consented to Wike nominating candidates for all local government elections under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) across the state. These nominees are to be elected without internal opposition in an election anticipated before the end of October. Upon his return, the Governor is also obligated to pay all outstanding allowances and entitlements of the 27 lawmakers loyal to the FCT Minister, who were previously suspended from the state assembly. In exchange, these lawmakers are expected to cooperate peacefully with the governor.

Adding a legal dimension to the crisis, the Supreme Court, in a judgment on February 28, addressed the political instability in Rivers State. The apex court highlighted several