Finally, there are significant signs that the emergency rule in Rivers State will end on September 18, 2025, and the state would go back to being a genuine democracy.
Reports from Saturday Tribune say that until today, the end of the state of emergency that President Bola Tinubu declared on March 18 for an initial six-month period had been a matter of speculation and hope in many places, with no formal announcements to confirm it.
Officials who were supposed to know always said they didn’t know if the emergency rule would terminate or be prolonged. They said they hadn’t heard or gotten any orders on the topic.
But an announcement from the interim administration last night put an end to the rumors and made it clear that Rivers State would return to democratic rule on September 18.
Prof. Ibibia Lucky Worika, Secretary to the State Government, signed the announcement. It was an invitation to a limited group of people to attend an Inter-Denominational Church Thanksgiving Service. This was part of the transition operations to bring about democratic administration in Rivers State.
Part of the statement says:
“The Government of Rivers State is happy to invite Permanent Secretaries, Local Government Chairmen, Heads of State Security and Para-Military Agencies, Traditional Rulers, Chairmen and members of Boards and Governing Councils, Captains of Industry, Government Officials, and invited guests to the Inter-Denominational Church Thanksgiving Service. This is part of the transition activities to bring about democratic governance in Rivers State.”
The invitation says that the thanksgiving service will be held tomorrow, Sunday, September 14, 2025, at 10 a.m.
The Ecumenical Centre on Abonnima Wharf Road in Port Harcourt is where the event will take place.
Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retired) will be the event’s Special Guest of Honor.
This news finally indicates that the emergency will end on September 18.
Suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly are now anticipated to return to their jobs. This is hoped to improve their relationship and stop the kind of acts that led to six months of undemocratic emergency rule.
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