President Bola Tinubu Has Taken Fresh Action To Calm The Prolonged Political Crisis In Rivers State Involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara And Former Governor, Nyesom Wike.

The Intervention Has Reshaped The Power Balance In The State. Wike Has Now Been Affirmed As The “Political Leader” Of Rivers Politics, While Governor Fubara’s Future Ambition For Re-Election Remains Uncertain.

The Latest Move Followed Months Of Tension That Crippled Governance And Created Fears Of Impeachment, Legislative Shutdown, And Unrest In The Oil-Rich State.

This Is Not The First Time The President Has Stepped Into The Matter. In December 2023, Tinubu Attempted To Broker Peace Between The Two Camps. That Agreement Collapsed. The Crisis Later Forced The Declaration Of Emergency Rule In Rivers State On March 18, 2025, Alongside The Suspension Of The Governor For Six Months.

In This New Round Of Negotiations, The President Ordered An Immediate Halt To All Impeachment Plans Against Fubara. However, The Decision Came With Strong Political Conditions Aimed At Restoring Order And Control In The State.

Tinubu’s Message To The Governor Was Direct. Wike Must Be Acknowledged As The Dominant Political Figure In Rivers State, Regardless Of Party Lines. The President Made It Clear That This Status Should Not Be Challenged.

He Warned That Continued Conflict Would Weaken Governance And Threaten Stability In The State. He Also Insisted That Such Instability Would Not Be Tolerated Under His Administration.

At The Same Time, Tinubu Instructed Wike And His Allies To Withdraw From Any Impeachment Plot Against The Sitting Governor. The Focus, He Said, Must Return To Governance And Public Service.

The Rift Between Fubara And Wike Began Shortly After The Governor Assumed Office In May 2023. Wike Had Personally Supported Fubara’s Rise To Power. But Relations Soured When The Governor Started Asserting Independence From His Former Benefactor.

Political Groups In Rivers State Quickly Took Sides. Most Lawmakers In The House Of Assembly Aligned With Wike. This Led To Repeated Attempts To Remove Fubara From Office.

Each Disagreement Reopened The Threat Of Impeachment. Peace Talks Were Held Several Times. None Produced Lasting Results.

The President Reportedly Drew A Comparison With Lagos State Politics During The Meeting. He Was Quoted As Saying, “Is Babajide Sanwo-Olu My Leader In Lagos, Or Was Babatunde Fashola My Leader When He Was Governor?”

He Also Stressed Respect For Political Hierarchy. Wike, He Said, Should Be Treated As A Senior Political Figure In Rivers State. According To The President, Political Experience And Influence Cannot Be Ignored Because Of Personal Disputes.

As Part Of The Agreement, Fubara Was Directed To Formally Recognise Wike As The “Political Leader” Of Rivers State. All Party Disputes In The State Are To Be Routed Through Him.

This Decision Carries Weight Because Wike Is Still Officially A Member Of The Peoples Democratic Party, Even Though He Serves As Minister Of The Federal Capital Territory Under An APC Government. His Position Has Continued To Reshape Political Alignments In The State.

The Peace Arrangement Also Covered The Upcoming Rivers State House Of Assembly By-Elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission Has Fixed February 21, 2026, For Polls In Ahoada East II And Khana II Constituencies.

The Ahoada East II Seat Became Vacant After Edison Ehie Resigned To Become Chief Of Staff To Governor Fubara. The Khana II Seat Has Remained Empty Since The Death Of Lawmaker Dinebari Loolo In September 2023.

On The Matter Of Candidates, The President Directed That Wike’s Loyalists Should Be Recognised By The Ruling Party. One Of The Conditions Stated, “It Was Explicitly Stated That Wike Has Two Candidates For The By-Elections And That Those Candidates Are To Be Recognised By The APC Party Structure,”

The Question Of Fubara’s Second-Term Ambition Was Raised During The Discussions. However, It Was Postponed. The President Reportedly Described Talks About The 2027 Governorship Race As Premature.

For Now, The Priority Remains Political Calm And Stability In Rivers State.