Rivers: Fubara returns as Wike reveals date lift emergency rule

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), announced that the emergency rule currently in place in Rivers State is set to be lifted on September 18, 2025.

This revelation came shortly after he cast his vote in the ongoing local government elections across the state.

Wike took a moment to emphasize that the electoral process has been predominantly peaceful, reflecting a positive atmosphere during the polls.

Wike said: “As far as we are concerned, this election is peaceful, people are trooping out and at the end of the day the election has been conducted successfully and peacefully.

“I do know that by September 18, the state of emergency will expire and the state assembly will come back to their job and we will have a government at the grassroots level.”

The former governor further added, “The coast is clear for the state of emergency to be lifted, being that the state government has its representative and the local government has its representatives, so we are good to go.”

The elections, conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), are being supervised by its Sole Administrator, Ibas, following the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

On Friday, there was a heavy security presence around the RSIEC headquarters in Port Harcourt, with entry restricted to accredited personnel. The Rivers State Police Command had also ordered a restriction of movement from midnight to 6 a.m. to ensure a smooth and secure electoral exercise.

The emergency rule in Rivers State was declared earlier this year after heightened political tensions between Wike and Fubara.