Port Harcourt was the focus of national attention on Thursday as Governor Siminalayi Fubara prepared to return to office following a six-month suspension that saw governance in the state interrupted under emergency rule. His reinstatement, authorised by President Bola Tinubu, has triggered both celebrations among residents and a formal resumption of state institutions.

Crowds of supporters gathered across Port Harcourt from as early as 7 a.m., filling roads leading to the Government House, the State Secretariat, and adjoining streets. Masquerades, musicians, and entertainers performed as residents expressed relief at the governor’s return. Some moved on to the Port Harcourt International Airport to await his arrival.

“This is a new dawn for Rivers State,” said one supporter near the Brick House, where political figures also arrived to cheers from their followers.

The governor’s absence coincided with a period of political unrest that prompted the Federal Government to impose emergency rule. Fubara was last seen publicly in Port Harcourt at the burial of a relative of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, shortly after a peace pact was reached in Abuja under the President’s mediation.

The reinstatement has also marked the restart of government activities across the three arms. The Rivers State Judiciary announced the end of its annual vacation, which began on July 21, with courts resuming normal sittings on September 17. Chief Registrar David Ihua-Maduenyi urged lawyers and litigants to return to their regular engagements, noting that vacation judges had handled critical cases during the break.

The State Assembly is also expected to reconvene in the coming days. A legislative source confirmed that preparations are underway to resume sittings, with lawmakers expected to deliberate on pending matters and re-establish oversight functions.

Political analyst and APC chieftain Eze Chukwuemeka Eze criticised the events that led to the governor’s suspension, arguing that Nigerians “watched and did nothing, allowing the illegalities in Rivers State to happen successfully.”

He warned that continued public silence in the face of such political developments could weaken Nigeria’s democracy.

Governor Fubara is scheduled to resume official duties on Friday. According to his aides, his immediate focus will be restoring administrative stability and addressing development priorities that were disrupted during his absence.