Full Story: How Fubara Was Removed – And Why He’s Returning Tomorrow

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, is expected to officially return to office on Thursday, September 18, following the expiration of the six-month state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu.

Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and the State House of Assembly were suspended in March 2025 after months of political turmoil that crippled governance in the oil-rich state.

The crisis stemmed from an intense rift between Fubara and his predecessor-turned-political rival, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

The feud, which began shortly after Fubara assumed office in May 2023, escalated into a full-blown political war—splitting the Assembly into factions, halting legislative functions, and nearly collapsing governance.

This report chronicles over 60 major flashpoints, from the arson attack on the Assembly complex and defections of 27 lawmakers to violent protests, court rulings, and pipeline explosions, culminating in Tinubu’s proclamation of emergency rule in March 2025.