Wike, Lawmakers, Council Chairmen Meet Fubara

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and chairmen of the state’s 23 local government areas met with Governor Siminalayi Fubara at his private residence in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

The meeting came about two weeks after Wike led members of the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2027 general election, Kingsley Chinda, to meet with the governor.

Sunday’s gathering marked the first time the FCT minister had visited Fubara at his residence in Port Harcourt. The meeting is believed to be part of ongoing discussions between the two political camps to strengthen reconciliation efforts following a period of relative calm in the state.

Wike led a delegation made up largely of state lawmakers, including the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, alongside the chairmen of all 23 local government areas.

Chinda, who is the APC’s standard-bearer for the 2027 election in Rivers State, was also among those who attended the meeting.

Although details of the private discussions were not immediately made public, sources said the meeting was intended to build on previous engagements, improve relations between the opposing camps and explore ways to accommodate Fubara’s supporters in the state’s changing political structure.

Fubara and the Amaewhule-led House of Assembly had been involved in a prolonged dispute for more than two years, arising from disagreements between the governor and his predecessor, Wike.

During the crisis, lawmakers made two attempts to impeach Fubara before President Bola Tinubu intervened to address the political situation.

Tensions escalated in October 2023 when part of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex along Moscow Road was bombed. The dispute further divided political interests across the state, while suspected militant groups threatened attacks on oil installations.

The crisis attracted renewed federal attention in March 2025, when Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State for an initial period of six months.

The decision resulted in the suspension of Fubara, his deputy and members of the state legislature. Tinubu appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas as administrator during the emergency period, before the elected officials eventually returned to their positions.

Sunday’s meeting brought together several key figures associated with the political dispute, including the governor, the legislative leadership and local government chairmen aligned with Wike.

The involvement of the Speaker, other lawmakers and the 23 council chairmen also expanded the range of political stakeholders participating in the reconciliation discussions.

The renewed engagement could help improve cooperation between the executive and legislative arms of government as Rivers State approaches the 2027 general election.

However, it remains unclear whether the discussions will lead to a lasting settlement. Questions also remain over the influence of Wike’s political camp on local government leadership and candidate selection ahead of the elections.

The extent to which Fubara’s loyalists will be included in any emerging political arrangement has yet to be established.