President Bola Tinubu returned to Abuja on Tuesday, ahead of the conclusion of his vacation, which would have been on September 19.

The Presidential jet, Air Force 001, touched down at the Presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 6:50pm local time.

The president has been in France and the United Kingdom since September 4th on a working vacation as part of his 2025 annual leave.

The president will have his hands full as he resumes official duty today.

On March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State following a protracted political crisis between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike.

The FCT Minister had the majority of the state lawmakers on his side, and an impeachment process was in motion. But what brought things to a head was the blowing up of Oil installations purportedly by militants.

In proclaiming the six-month state of emergency, President Tinubu said the state’s security situation and political tension necessitated his intervention to forestall a total breakdown of law and order.

The president promptly appointed Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff, as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.

Six months down the line, President Tinubu may choose to extend the State of emergency or may choose to end it all in alignment with his powers as outlined in section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.

In line with the relevant sections of the constitution, there are roles the President will play to bring the saga to an end.

The president is required to make a nationwide broadcast suspending the state of emergency and normalizing all other functions that were affected by the emergency rule.

Furthermore, President Tinubu will sign the decree suspending emergency rule, which he cannot do from outside the country.

There has been a raging debate about handover procedures, which could lead to political instability in the state if the transition isn’t handled smoothly.

A school of thought believes that the governor does not need to take a new oath since he was suspended and not impeached, arguing that the process of his return has nothing to do with the National Assembly and so it makes no difference whether the legislature is in recess or not.

The argument is that the sole administrator only needs to hand over to either the Secretary to the State Government or the Head of Service on Wednesday evening for power to be transferred seamlessly to Fubara on Thursday.

Another school of thought argued that the president does not need to make any national broadcast to enable Fubara’s return, although precedent does not support this.

In past instances during the administrations of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, the leaders not only made nationwide broadcasts to lift the state of emergency but also signed decrees lifting emergency rule.

Apart from the emergency rule situation, Presidency sources have hinted that Tinubu’s early return could be tied to the need for him to prepare to participate in the 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 80), which opened on Tuesday, 9th September 2025.

The first day of the high-level General Debate will begin on Tuesday, 23rd September 2025.

It is protocol that President Tinubu will depart Abuja for New York two days before the high-level UN general debate. (Daily Trust)

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