Emergency Rule: Sole Administrator Ibas Exits Rivers Govt House after Performing Last Official Duty

• The outgoing sole administrator in Rivers state, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has sent important message to people of the state
• Ibas's address was aired across local broadcast stations, officially announcing his exit on Thursday, September 18, 2025
• President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier ordered the reinstatement of suspended Governor Sim Fubara and other elected officials in the state after the expiration of teh six months state of emergency rule

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Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 8 years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international issues

Port Harcourt, Rivers state - The outgoing sole administrator in Rivers state, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has performed his last official duty before formally bowing out of office.

Legit.ng recalls that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, announced an end to the emergency rule and reinstatement of Siminalayi Fubara as governor of Rivers State.

Tinubu had declared state of emergency in Rivers state on March 18, 2025, following the political crisis in the state.

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Ibas’s address was aired across local broadcast stations at 7am on Thursday, September 18, 2025 while officially announcing his exit.

The outgoing administrator’s address drew the six-month emergency administration in Rivers State to a close.

As reported by Channels Television, Ibas mentioned the restoration of calm and the reestablishment of public confidence in government as part of his achievements.

Ibas explained that peace was the cornerstone of his stewardship and urged the incoming leadership to consolidate on that foundation.

The retired Navy boss earlier supervised the swearing-in of Mrs Inyingi Brown as the substantive Head of Service of Rivers state at a ceremony on Wednesday, September 17 preceding his exit.

Ibas charged her to offer Fubara equal loyalty she gave to the interim administration when she served in an acting capacity.

Brown had been performing in an acting capacity since the resignation of the former Head of Service, George Nwaeke.

List of winners, losers as Tinubu reinstates Fubara

Recall that President Tinubu restored all the democratically elected officials back to office in Rivers state

Siminalayi Fubara would resume duties as governor on Thursday, September 12, 2025, following the end of the six-month emergency rule.

Legit.ng highlighted the winners and losers after President Tinubu reinstated Fubara and others to their various positions.

Read more stories on Rivers crisis and emergency rule:

• Rivers State: List of 4 Powerful Politicians Reinstated As Tinubu Lifts Emergency Rule
• Tinubu Shares Why He Lifted Emergency Rule in Rivers State
• “What I Would Do With Wike If I Were Fubara”: Ex-APC Governorship Candidate Reacts to Rivers Crisis
• Rivers crisis: 7 Takeaways from Tinubu's speech as he lifts emergency rule
• Rivers Assembly Set to Resume Sitting As Tinubu Announces Cessation of State of Emergency

Wike speaks as Tinubu restores Fubara as Rivers governor

In a similar story story, Legit.ng reported that FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, reacted to the restoration of democratically elected officials in Rivers state.

The state governor and all legislators were suspended by the president of the federation six months ago.

At the time, President Bola Tinubu appointed a sole administrator to pilot the affairs of the state in the wake of Governor Siminalayi Fubara's suspension.

Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.