Governor Fubara arrives at Port Harcourt Airport following emergency lift

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara arrived at Port Harcourt International Airport on Friday, where he was warmly welcomed by a large crowd of supporters. His arrival came more than 24 hours after President Bola Tinubu officially ended the six-month state of emergency declared in Rivers State due to a political crisis.

The governor touched down at approximately 12:19 p.m., this afternoon marking the conclusion of a challenging period when governance in the oil-rich state was overseen by retired Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as caretaker administrator. Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, had been absent from office since the emergency rule began in March 2025.

Despite the House of Assembly resuming sessions on Thursday, Governor Fubara did not immediately return to the Government House. His predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, clarified in an interview that there was no legal requirement for the governor to resume work on that day.

The political unrest had stemmed from a prolonged struggle between Fubara and former governor Wike shortly after Fubara’s inauguration in May 2023. The discord fractured the state assembly and halted normal governance, compelling the federal government to intervene.

Local government elections conducted during the emergency period resulted in a massive victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC), which secured 20 of the 23 councils, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won three.

Nyesom Wike advised all political actors to focus on peace and cooperation to ensure a smooth governance transition.