Monday, August 18, 2025, marks exactly five months since President Bola Tinubu declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, and the Assembly members for six months due to political unrest.

This means that the suspension of the democratic institutions will expire in a month.

Meanwhile, residents and keen political observers have urged the President to ensure that Governor Fubara and others are restored to their seats come September 18, 2025.

The residents, including lawyers and Civil Society Organisations, warned that the proposed conduct of the Local Government elections should not be used as an excuse to extend the emergency rule.

According to the residents, their identity and sensibilities have been abused by the emergency regime, warning that any attempt to extend the emergency regime will not be accepted.

Speaking, a keen political watcher and an indigene of Rivers State, Sunny Dada, said, “Our expectation is simple, the President should restore the democratic order. What we have witnessed in the last five months of the emergency regime is a frontal assault against democratic Institutions

“So, all eyes are on him (Tinubu), and the minimum we are expecting from him is to restore democratic institutions with an apology to Rivers people and Nigerians whose sensibilities were assaulted. Our identity was abused, our dignity was degraded, and every day, the actions of the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas, keep adding pepper to injury, so we want to see the governor, State Assembly and deputy governor back in office.”

Dada further warned that the proposed Local Government elections should not be held under the emergency regime or used as an excuse to delay them, but the President should permit democratic institutions to organise and conduct the polls.

“We want to see a proper local government election conducted by the constitutionally recognised democratic institutions, not by Mr. Ibas,” he stated.

Also speaking, a constitutional lawyer, Angus Chukwuka, said, “By the end of six months, which is September 18, we expect restoration of the democratic institutions because there is no need for extension.

“The issue of local government elections is not within the scope of the emergency regime, so democratic institutions should be reinstated because the conduct of the elections cannot be completed in the few weeks remaining, and this should not be used as an excuse for extending the emergency regime,” he said.

Additionally, a trader at Rumokoro Market in ObioAkpor Local Government Area of the State, Mrs. Emelia Obianuju, lamented that the emergency regime slowed down businesses and all economic activities, calling on the President to restore democratic government.

Recall that President Tinubu declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State on 18 March 2025 and appointed Ibas as the Sole Administrator to restore peace, stating he was greatly disturbed by the ongoing crisis in the state.

Despite heavy criticism of the President’s action, the Senate and the National Assembly approved the declaration. However, civil society groups and opposition political parties have continued to criticise the actions.