Olusegun Adeyemo
A calm but expectant air swept through Rivers State on Saturday as residents trooped out for the local government elections—an exercise many see as a rehearsal for the state’s return to normal governance.
For months, the state has been under an emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu to stem rising political unrest. The extraordinary measure suspended Governor Sim Fubara, his deputy, and the State Assembly, leaving Rivers in an unusual state of limbo.
Yet, amid the uncertainty, a flicker of hope emerged. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who cast his vote in the elections, described the atmosphere as peaceful and orderly, insisting that grassroots governance was on its way back.
“As far as we are concerned, this election is peaceful, people are trooping out, and at the end of the day, it will be adjudged successful,” Wike said, commending the turnout.
Only after reflecting on the polls did Wike lift the veil on what many have been waiting to hear: the countdown to freedom. He confirmed that the state of emergency would officially expire on September 18, 2025, clearing the way for the Rivers State House of Assembly to resume legislative duties.
“I do know that by September 18, the state of emergency will expire, and the state assembly will return to its duties. With representatives now in place at both the state and local government levels, the coast is clear for full governance to resume,” Wike affirmed.
For Rivers, the date now looms not just as the end of an extraordinary rule, but as the dawn of a new chapter—one that promises restored stability, governance, and hope.