Hundreds of jubilant Rivers State indigenes and residents converged early Friday at the airport in Port Harcourt to welcome back His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, two days after the six‐month state of emergency in the state was officially lifted. The emergency had, since March 18, suspended the governor, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the House of Assembly under presidential decree.

At the VIP wing of the airport and its surroundings, supporters — including former commissioners, local government chairmen, disbanded political aides and members of Fubara’s political movement — gathered in colourful display, singing, dancing, and performing traditional cultural rites. Though many had hoped to see the Governor resume work immediately, as of mid‐morning he had not yet emerged at the Government House, stirring both anticipation and impatience.

His return marks the formal restoration of democratic rule in Rivers State, following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s lifting of the emergency rule on September 17, 2025. Rivers’ State House of Assembly reconvened on Thursday, September 18. With Fubara’s arrival, expectations are high that governance will swiftly resume its full functions across executive, legislative, and administrative branches.