By Atoyebi Nike
President Bola Tinubu and suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, are both expected back in Nigeria today (Tuesday) ahead of Rivers State’s return to democratic rule on Thursday, September 18.
Tinubu, who cut short his vacation in France, will resume official duties in Abuja immediately, according to his media aide, Bayo Onanuga. While abroad, the President held a private luncheon with French President Emmanuel Macron, where both leaders reviewed bilateral relations and agreed to deepen cooperation in key sectors.
Fubara is also due back from London, with his reinstatement scheduled for Thursday. His return comes as Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), appointed as sole administrator during the state of emergency, intensifies preparations for the handover.
The Rivers transition programme commenced on Sunday with a thanksgiving service in Port Harcourt. A public lecture themed “Democracy and Good Governance” is scheduled for Tuesday, September 16, at the Government House Banquet Hall, with Ibas as Special Guest of Honour.
The Rivers crisis began in late 2023 following the demolition of the state’s House of Assembly complex by Fubara, triggering a prolonged tussle with lawmakers loyal to his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. The conflict escalated after 27 PDP lawmakers defected to the APC, sparking legal battles and legislative paralysis.
In March 2025, Tinubu declared emergency rule after explosions on vital oil pipelines heightened insecurity in the state. Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff, was appointed to restore order and oversee governance.
Meanwhile, a Port Harcourt High Court on Monday dismissed a suit challenging Tinubu’s powers to appoint an administrator and the legality of the August 30 local government elections. Justice Stephen Jumbo ruled that only the Supreme Court had jurisdiction during emergency rule and that the claimant lacked locus standi.
