President Bola Tinubu has once again intervened in the festering political crisis in Rivers State, ordering an immediate halt to any impeachment moves against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and directing both camps to embrace a truce.
The latest presidential move follows months of failed reconciliation efforts that plunged the state into legislative paralysis, impeachment threats and, at one point, a six-month state of emergency declared on March 18, 2025.
Citing multiple sources familiar with the development, ThisDay Newspaper reported that Tinubu acted just before departing for an official visit to Türkiye on January 26, laying down firm political conditions aimed at restoring calm in a state considered strategic to his 2027 re-election calculations.
According to the sources, the president instructed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to immediately suspend all impeachment-related actions against Fubara, warning that continued hostilities would further destabilise governance in Rivers.
At the same time, Tinubu reportedly made it clear to Fubara that Wike remains a dominant political force in Rivers politics and should be accorded due respect in party affairs.
One insider quoted the president as drawing a comparison with Lagos politics to emphasise political hierarchy: “Is Babajide Sanwo-Olu my leader in Lagos, or was Babatunde Fashola my leader when he was governor?”
The remark, sources said, was meant to underscore the place of political seniority in party structures.
The rift between Fubara and Wike began months after the governor’s inauguration in May 2023, despite Wike’s role in facilitating his emergence. As Fubara sought to assert independence, lawmakers loyal to Wike, who control the State House of Assembly, resisted, triggering impeachment threats and repeated political standoffs.
Several peace efforts failed to achieve lasting results, culminating in the declaration of emergency rule last year.
While Wike’s camp accuses the governor of betrayal, Fubara’s supporters argue that Rivers State cannot be run from Abuja by a former governor now serving as minister.
As part of the latest peace effort, Tinubu was said to have directed that internal party disagreements in Rivers must ultimately recognise Wike’s standing as political leader.
The arrangement also reportedly covers the forthcoming House of Assembly bye-elections scheduled for February 21, 2026, in Ahoada East II and Khana II constituencies, with candidates aligned to Wike expected to be recognised by the APC structure.
The Ahoada East II seat became vacant after the resignation of Edison Ehie, now Chief of Staff to Fubara, while Khana II has remained vacant since the death of its lawmaker, Dinebari Loolo, in September 2023.
Sources added that discussions about Fubara’s potential second-term ambition were raised but deliberately set aside, with Tinubu reportedly describing talk of the 2027 governorship race as premature.
Tinubu had earlier brokered a peace deal between the two men in December 2023, which later collapsed and paved the way for the crisis that followed.
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