Port Harcourt, September 18, 2025 — Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State is set to officially resume duties today, following the suspension of the six-month State of Emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu.
The political turbulence in Rivers, which began in 2023 after Fubara succeeded former Governor and now FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, escalated into one of Nigeria’s most prolonged and dramatic state-level crises in recent history.
In March 2025, President Tinubu suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the State House of Assembly after the battle for control of the state spiraled into institutional collapse, factional assemblies, defection disputes, multiple court rulings, and widespread unrest.
This report highlights 60 significant flashpoints that shaped the political feud and culminated in the declaration of emergency rule.
The Flashpoints: From Fire to Emergency
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October 29, 2023 — A section of the Rivers State House of Assembly was set ablaze by unidentified persons.
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October 30, 2023 — Speaker Martins Ameawhule-led Assembly suspended four lawmakers, initiated impeachment against Fubara, and replaced House Leader Edison Ehie. Ehie retaliated by declaring himself Speaker.
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November–December 2023 — A flurry of court battles, defection dramas, commissioners’ resignations, budget disputes, and the eventual demolition of the Assembly complex by Fubara deepened the rift.
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December 18, 2023 — Tinubu intervened with an 8-point Presidential Resolution, temporarily calming tensions.
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January–May 2024 — Both factions continued parallel sittings. Fubara swore in aides without Assembly approval, withheld local government funds, and recognized a minority-led House. Several commissioners resigned.
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June–July 2024 — Courts oscillated between validating and nullifying various factions’ actions. Dynamite explosions, protests, and ultimatums raised security fears.
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October 2024 — Federal High Court froze Rivers’ accounts due to lack of a valid budget.
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February 2025 — The Supreme Court upheld Ameawhule as Speaker, nullified Oko Jumbo’s faction, froze state accounts, and annulled local government elections.
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March 18, 2025 — President Tinubu declared a State of Emergency, with the National Assembly backing the move two days later.
Aftermath and Resolution
The emergency rule suspended Fubara, his deputy, and the entire legislative arm, while federal authorities administered the state. Following months of negotiations, legal reviews, and peace talks, Tinubu lifted the emergency on September 17, 2025, paving the way for Fubara’s return to Government House.
As the governor resumes, analysts warn that the fragile peace deal may not last unless both factions — particularly the camps of Wike and Fubara — commit to reconciliation.