A major breakthrough may have been achieved in the prolonged political crisis in Rivers State following a high-level peace meeting in Abuja on Thursday, June 27.
The closed-door session, presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has reignited hope for the reinstatement of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara but not without strings attached.
Reliable sources familiar with the negotiations revealed that Governor Fubara has consented to four critical conditions demanded by key stakeholders led by Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, as a prerequisite for his return to office, accorring to Vanguard.
The Thursday night peace parley, which included Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly Martin Amaewhule and other top political actors, was seen as a last-ditch attempt to restore political stability in the state nearly two years after tensions erupted between Fubara and his estranged political mentor, Wike.
One-term deal
Foremost among the agreements is that Fubara will not seek re-election in 2027. The governor reportedly conceded to serve a single four-year term, a historic first in Rivers State’s democratic evolution. This move, insiders say, is meant to pave the way for the emergence of a new candidate—preferably a loyalist of Wike—from the riverine bloc, thereby maintaining the informal zoning formula in the state.
Defection to APC
The second major condition requires Governor Fubara to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC). With most South-South PDP governors already aligning with the ruling party, the defection is seen as a strategic boost to President Tinubu’s re-election calculus, especially amid concerns about a possible northern backlash in 2027.
Fubara has also reportedly agreed not to nominate or endorse candidates for the upcoming local government elections scheduled for August 9. Though he will oversee the conduct of the polls as governor, he is expected to maintain a neutral stance. The arrangement is believed to legitimize the controversial appointment of Cross River-born Michael Odey as RSIEC Chairman and possibly facilitate the return of pro-Wike former council chairmen.
Political purge and lawmakers’ dues
Lastly, the governor is said to have accepted to restructure his administration by sacking key loyalists, including Secretary to the State Government Dr. Tammy Danagogo, Chief of Staff Dr. Edison Ehie, and former Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo. Wike is to play a dominant role in selecting their replacements.
Additionally, Fubara will pay all outstanding allowances owed to the 27 lawmakers led by Amaewhule, whose legislative weight could threaten him with impeachment.
A senior political source described the arrangement as a “reunion of the prodigal son with his political family,” stressing that Wike’s hold on the state’s power structure remains decisive.
President Tinubu had earlier declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, appointing Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (rtd) as Sole Administrator to calm tensions. The state missed out on Democracy Day and second anniversary celebrations under the Fubara administration due to the crisis.
However, Thursday’s peace effort, marked by images of Tinubu, Wike, and Fubara smiling together, has been hailed as a possible turning point.
Leaders of the Ijaw Nation, including INC President Prof. Benjamin Okaba and SSRG Convener Joseph Ambakaderimo, welcomed the development with cautious optimism. They urged the President to ensure that the deal protects the interest of Rivers people and is not skewed to favor any single faction.
Former Wike aide, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, described the meeting as “the final stage of reconciliation” and predicted that democratic institutions would be restored in the state within days.
While many await official confirmation, observers believe the governor’s reinstatement is now a matter of when—not if.
