WorldStage– President Bola Tinubu has cut short of his annual vacation to meet the constitutional procedures that he broadcast the suspension of emergency rule in Rivers State and sign the decree officially lifting it, according to reliable Presidency sources.
The sources said that the actions must be performed from within Nigeria.
President Tinubu on March 18 declared a state of emergency in Rivers following a protracted political crisis between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The six months emergency rule will end on Thursday, September 18, 2025.
The sources also said Tinubu’s premature return was necessitated by the need to prepare for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) in New York, which opened on September 9, 2025..
The president arrived back Abuja on Tuesday ahead of the scheduled conclusion of his annual leave on September 19.
His aircraft, Air Force 001, touched down at the Presidential Wing of Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport at approximately 6:50 pm local time.
The president had been on a working vacation in France and the United Kingdom since September 4, combining rest with official engagements.
Sources said, “As the six-month period concludes, the president faces a decision: either extend the state of emergency or end it, in line with Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Meanwhile, there are diverging views over the handover process in Rivers State. One perspective holds that Governor Fubara does not need to retake an oath of office, as he was suspended but not impeached.
Under this view, the sole administrator would hand over authority to the Secretary to the State Government or Head of Service, ensuring a seamless transition back to the governor on Thursday.
Another perspective suggests that a nationwide broadcast by the president is unnecessary for Fubara’s return.
However, historical precedent indicates otherwise. During the administrations of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, the lifting of a state of emergency was accompanied by both a nationwide broadcast and a signed decree.
Beyond the emergency situation in Rivers, sources indicate that President Tinubu’s early return also aligns with preparations for the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) in New York, which opened on September 9, 2025.
The high-level General Debate is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 23, and protocol dictates that President Tinubu will depart Abuja two days prior.
By returning early, the president ensures that domestic issues requiring his constitutional authority are addressed before he leaves for international engagements, balancing national governance with Nigeria’s diplomatic obligations.
