President Bola Tinubu is reportedly preparing to reinstate the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly later this month. This decision follows a recent peace meeting involving Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
According to insiders in the Presidency, the meeting, held behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, was attended by key figures involved in the political turmoil in Rivers State. These included Governor Fubara, Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and several lawmakers. The discussions reportedly ended with a general agreement to restore calm and political order in the state.
The crisis in Rivers State began in October 2023 with a fierce power struggle between Fubara and Wike, once political allies. Their fallout led to 27 lawmakers aligned with Wike initiating impeachment proceedings against the governor. The situation worsened in March 2025, when President Tinubu announced a six-month emergency rule in the state. This came after alleged militant attacks on oil pipelines, which Tinubu said were not properly addressed by the governor.
As part of the emergency rule, Tinubu suspended Fubara, his deputy, and all Assembly members. Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas was then appointed as the sole administrator of the state. At the time, many legal experts questioned the move’s constitutionality, but it remained in place as the crisis deepened.
Violence erupted during the conflict. Explosions were reported near political hotspots in Port Harcourt, and protests broke out between supporters of both factions. Some public buildings were also set on fire during disputed local elections, with both sides blaming each other.
In a move by the Supreme Court earlier this year, Martins Amaewhule and the pro-Wike lawmakers were declared legitimate Assembly members. The court also cancelled the local elections held by Fubara’s administration in February 2024. When Fubara attempted to re-present the state budget after this ruling, he was denied access to the Assembly complex.
While it was previously believed that Fubara would only return in September after the emergency rule ended, Presidency sources now say he could be back in office much sooner. “At the latest, Fubara should resume as Rivers State Governor this month. Once the President returns from his visits to Saint Lucia and Brazil, he will make the formal announcement,” a source said.
The recent peace deal reportedly allows Fubara to serve out his current term but bars him from contesting for re-election in 2027. It also reduces his control over local government matters, handing more influence back to Wike. One source noted, “The deal is about restoring calm—but it comes at a steep cost for Fubara.”
As part of the agreement, Fubara will pay all outstanding entitlements owed to the pro-Wike lawmakers, while Wike will reportedly nominate all 23 local government chairpersons. Meanwhile, the impeachment proceedings initiated against Fubara and his deputy will be withdrawn.
Speaking after the reconciliation meeting, Wike said, “We have all agreed to work together with the governor, and the governor also agreed to work together with all of us…” Fubara added, “What we need for the progress of Rivers State is peace… peace has returned.”
In a further sign of reconciliation, Fubara has disbanded his political support groups formed during the crisis. These include the “Simplified Movement” and “Simplified Elders,” which were created to rally his base against the pro-Wike faction. Their suspension marks his full return to the Wike-led political camp, with both sides now claiming to be united under the same party structure.
Former lawmaker Chief Ogbonna Nwuke confirmed this step, noting that the group’s suspension shows the political family is now mending its divisions. “We were one family before, and now that peace has returned, there has to be reintegration,” he said.
