Wike Says Rivers State Emergency Ends September 18

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has expressed confidence that the state of emergency in Rivers State will end on September 18, 2025.

Speaking after casting his vote in Rivers State’s local government elections on Saturday, Wike said the State House of Assembly is expected to resume its functions immediately after the expiration of the emergency rule.

The state of emergency was imposed by President Bola Tinubu earlier this year to prevent a political crisis in Rivers State.

Under the measure:

• The State House of Assembly was suspended.

• Governor Sim Fubara and his deputy were temporarily restrained.

• The suspension period was set for six months.

Wike described the ongoing election as peaceful, praising voter turnout and the conduct of the polls.

“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,” he said.

He added that with representation in both the state and local government, the conditions were right for the emergency to be lifted:

“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 expiration of the emergency rule could mark a turning point for governance in Rivers State, restoring legislative functions and stabilizing grassroots administration. However, whether tensions will fully subside remains uncertain.