There are strong indications that President Bola Tinubu may soon lift the state of emergency declared in Rivers State, following the apparent resolution of the protracted political crisis and restoration of peace in the state’s governance structure.

This development follows a late-night meeting on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where President Tinubu once again hosted the feuding parties behind closed doors.

The President met with Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister Nyesom Wike, and lawmakers who had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), receiving updates on the peace process initiated through his earlier interventions.

The meeting reportedly stretched into the early hours of Friday.

“They have resolved their differences and agreed to work together. They left Aso Rock happy, and I think that is what everyone has been praying for—restoration of peace,” a source familiar with the discussions told Business Day.

President Tinubu had declared a political state of emergency in Rivers on March 18 following heightened tensions between Governor Fubara and the state assembly members, many of whom are loyal to Wike, the governor’s estranged political godfather.

Speaking after the meeting, Wike confirmed that a truce had been reached.

Governor Fubara also expressed optimism that the peace deal would hold.