Tinubu Cuts Short Vacation, Returns to Abuja Amid Rivers Emergency Rule Deadline

On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu returned to Abuja from his 10-day working vacation in France and the United Kingdom, ahead of schedule, as the six-month emergency rule in Rivers State expires on September 17, 2025, according to a statement by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, reported by Vanguard and Punch. The President’s early return, initially planned for September 16, coincides with expectations of a proclamation to end the emergency rule imposed on March 18, 2025, which suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and the State House of Assembly amid a political crisis between Fubara and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike During his vacation, Tinubu met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris to review bilateral cooperation

Rivers Emergency Rule Expiry: The emergency rule, declared under Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to avert a breakdown of law and order, ends tomorrow, with Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (retd.), the Sole Administrator, having prepared a handover note and held a thanksgiving service. Ibas emphasized sustaining peace and democratic dividends, crediting community resilience for stability. The Rivers State Elders Council, led by Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, urged unity to prevent recurrence, calling on Fubara and the Assembly to collaborate. PDP leaders, including Deputy National Legal Adviser Okechukwu Osuoha and Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor, demanded Fubara’s return with accountability for the interim rule, rejecting APC defection rumors. Coalition of United Political Parties’ Chief Peter Ameh described Fubara as a “conquered man,” warning of APC influence

Controversy Over Legality: Critics, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), challenged the emergency rule’s constitutionality, arguing it violated Sections 188 and 305 by suspending elected officials without impeachment. APGA’s Chief Chekwas Okorie and commentator Israel Edache called it a “sad reminder of godfatherism,” urging Fubara to assert independence. X posts from @RiversStateGov (September 16, 2025) anticipated Fubara’s return, while @Naija_Activist noted 71% public support for ending the rule but skepticism over reconciliation. Tinubu’s return signals readiness to address the Rivers impasse amid ongoing PDP-APC tensions