A large crowd gathered on Thursday in front of the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt to welcome back Siminalayi Fubara as governor of the state.
On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu lifted the six-month emergency rule imposed on the state following a prolonged political crisis.
In his directive, the president asked Fubara, the suspended governor, to resume work on Thursday, September 18.
He also instructed Ngozi Nma Odu, the deputy governor, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to return to their duties.
By 8am, residents had already begun converging outside the Rivers Government House, located off Azikiwe Road.
Ibok-Ete Ibas, who had served as sole administrator during the emergency rule, vacated the government house shortly before the president’s announcement.