As the six-month state of emergency in Rivers State draws to a close, attention is now fixed on Thursday, September 18, 2025, as the likely day Governor Siminalayi Fubara will be reinstated and resume duties from Vice Admiral (retd.) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, who has served as sole administrator since March.
This expectation is being bolstered by remarks from the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, during the recently held local government election in the state.
On August 30, during the Rivers State Local Government elections, Wike said that “by 18th of September, that state of emergency will expire and the governor and state House of Assembly will come back to their jobs.”
Wike stressed that holding these local government elections was essential because if they were not conducted under the emergency rule, governance at the grassroots would be in jeopardy once the emergency period ends.
Also ahead of the expected transition, President Tinubu’s movements appear to align with this timeline. President Tinubu’s vacation was cut short as he returned to Abuja on Tuesday, September 16, “to resume official duties” ahead of what many expect to be the reinstatement of Fubara.
With more pointers in place, Naija News had earlier reported that the Rivers State Government announced on Saturday, September 13, 2025, the official transition from emergency rule to democratic governance.
This was announced in a statement on Saturday by the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Prof. Ibibia Lucky Worika.
The Government announced that as part of the transition activities, the state would hold an interdenominational church thanksgiving service on Sunday, inviting all critical stakeholders to the service.
Naija News recalls that the emergency rule was declared on March 18, 2025, by President Tinubu. Amid escalating insecurity, pipeline vandalism, and political instability in Rivers State, he suspended Fubara, his deputy, and the entire state House of Assembly, appointing Ibas as the sole administrator.
The suspension was backed by the National Assembly and justified as necessary for restoring law, order, and governance.
During the emergency administration, Ibas has overseen Local Government elections across the 23 LGAs of Rivers State, a verification exercise for civil servants and pensioners, rehabilitation of key infrastructure, and other stabilisation measures.
List of things expected to happen tomorrow:
- The state of emergency will officially expire as the six-month mark is reached.
- Governor Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly should officially resume their constitutional functions.
- Internal formalities or announcements from the Presidency or federal government confirming the handover.
- Transition arrangements: Ibas is likely to hand over to Fubara formally. There might be an event or public acknowledgement of that.
The post Rivers: List Of Things Expected To Happen Tomorrow As Fubara ‘Takes Over’ appeared first on Naija News.
