Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu’s suspension and subsequent reinstatement of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Deputy Governor, and members of the State House of Assembly, calling the actions “unconstitutional,” “illegal,” and a “clear sign of dictatorship.”
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Atiku stated:
“Lifting the suspension of Governor Simi Fubara is nothing to cheer about. The suspension of the Rivers State Governor and the State House of Assembly was unconstitutional when it was done six months ago and is still illegal today.
President Tinubu had no power to suspend a democratically elected governor and state lawmakers. The Rivers shenanigans only signpost the dictatorship of the Tinubu administration.”
President Tinubu on Wednesday declared an end to the state of emergency in Rivers State, effective midnight on September 17, 2025.
The emergency had been in place since March 18, following a constitutional impasse between the Governor and the House of Assembly that brought governance in the state to a standstill.
Announcing the lifting of the emergency, Tinubu expressed hope, saying he had observed “a groundswell of a new spirit of understanding, a robust readiness, and potent enthusiasm on the part of all the stakeholders in Rivers State for an immediate return to democratic governance.”
The President also thanked the National Assembly for approving the emergency declaration and praised traditional rulers and citizens of Rivers State “for their support.”
From September 18, Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Nma Odu, and the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly will resume their duties. President Tinubu urged all governors and houses of assembly to prioritise peace, order, and good government in delivering “the dividends of democracy to the people.”
