President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has successfully mediated a political truce in Rivers State, paving the way for the return of Governor Siminalayi Fubara to office under strict conditions that significantly curtail his political power.
The agreement was reached during a private meeting held Thursday night at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Present at the meeting were Governor Fubara, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers involved in the prolonged power tussle.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, President Tinubu made it clear that prolonged instability in Rivers State was no longer acceptable. To ensure peace, Governor Fubara was offered reinstatement on the condition that he would not seek re-election at the end of his current tenure in 2027. He reportedly accepted this term without resistance.
As part of the settlement, all impeachment proceedings against the governor by the pro-Wike lawmakers will be withdrawn. In return, Wike is to nominate all 23 local government chairpersons in the state, effectively giving him control over the political structure at the grassroots level. This move is seen as a strategic victory for Wike, who will retain strong influence in the state’s political direction.
Governor Fubara also agreed to pay all outstanding allowances and entitlements owed to the 27 lawmakers who had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the heat of the crisis. Despite their defection, the lawmakers had continued to assert their positions in the Assembly, resulting in legal battles and heightened political tension.
The political conflict between Fubara and Wike began in late 2023 and steadily worsened as both men fought for dominance over the state’s political machinery. What began as a power struggle quickly escalated into a full-blown crisis, with threats of impeachment, division within the House of Assembly, and disruption of governance.
In March 2025, President Tinubu intervened decisively by declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State. He suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state assembly for six months. A retired naval officer, Ibok-Ette Ibas, was appointed as sole administrator to manage the affairs of the state during the suspension.
With the six-month suspension set to end in September 2025, the new agreement clears the path for Fubara’s return to office. However, the governor will now serve out his term without the prospect of a second mandate and with reduced influence, as key aspects of governance, including local government control, have shifted to Wike.
The agreement is seen as a compromise designed to bring immediate calm to a politically unstable state, but it also reshapes the balance of power ahead of the 2027 elections. Wike, with full control of the local government structure, is expected to play a key role in deciding the political future of Rivers State.
