President Bola Tinubu is reportedly preparing to reinstate the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and the Rivers State House of Assembly later this month, following the successful brokering of a truce between Fubara and his predecessor, current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Presidency sources said Tinubu is considering Fubara’s return to office after a closed-door reconciliation meeting held Thursday night at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The meeting was attended by both Fubara and Wike, alongside the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and several lawmakers.
The Rivers State political crisis escalated on March 18, 2025, when President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich state, suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the State House of Assembly for six months. In a national broadcast, Tinubu cited “disturbing security reports” detailing pipeline vandalism by militants, which he said the governor failed to address. He emphasized that he could not allow the “grave situation” to persist unchecked.
The roots of the crisis trace back to October 2023, when a power struggle erupted between Fubara and Wike—his political mentor turned rival—over control of Rivers State’s political structures. The dispute led to 27 pro-Wike lawmakers in the House of Assembly initiating impeachment proceedings against Fubara.
President Tinubu previously intervened in the conflict on October 31, 2023, through a peace meeting at the Presidential Villa. However, the agreement collapsed shortly afterward.
In early 2024, the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt issued an order that allowed four pro-Fubara lawmakers to conduct legislative activities without interference from the pro-Wike faction—further deepening the political divide.
With recent developments suggesting progress in reconciliation efforts, there is growing anticipation that Governor Fubara may soon return to office as part of a broader political settlement aimed at restoring stability in Rivers State.
- Punch
