President Bola Tinubu is reportedly preparing to reinstate the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and the Rivers State House of Assembly later this month, following the successful brokering of a truce between Fubara and his predecessor, current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The Rivers State political crisis escalated on March 18, 2025, when President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich state, suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the State House of Assembly for six months. In a national broadcast, Tinubu cited “disturbing security reports” detailing pipeline vandalism by militants, which he said the governor failed to address. He emphasized that he could not allow the “grave situation” to persist unchecked.
The roots of the crisis trace back to October 2023, when a power struggle erupted between Fubara and Wike—his political mentor turned rival—over control of Rivers State’s political structures. The dispute led to 27 pro-Wike lawmakers in the House of Assembly initiating impeachment proceedings against Fubara.
President Tinubu previously intervened in the conflict on October 31, 2023, through a peace meeting at the Presidential Villa. However, the agreement collapsed shortly afterward.
In early 2024, the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt issued an order that allowed four pro-Fubara lawmakers to conduct legislative activities without interference from the pro-Wike faction—further deepening the political divide.
With recent developments suggesting progress in reconciliation efforts, there is growing anticipation that Governor Fubara may soon return to office as part of a broader political settlement aimed at restoring stability in Rivers State.
The Rivers State political crisis was marked by a series of violent incidents, including the bombing of a section of the State House of Assembly complex on the eve of the attempted impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Additionally, a dynamite explosion occurred near Hotel Presidential along Aba Road in Port Harcourt during a protest in support of former governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. During the disputed Local Government Area (LGA) elections in December 2023, two LGA offices and the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat were set ablaze.
In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court reinstated Martins Amaewhule as Speaker and restored the pro-Wike lawmakers as legitimate members of the House.
The court also nullified the LGA elections conducted by the Fubara-led administration in February 2024. Following this, the Assembly gave Fubara a 48-hour ultimatum to re-present the state budget. However, he was denied entry to the Assembly complex, frustrating his efforts to comply.
The political standoff intensified in March when the pro-Wike lawmakers served impeachment notices to Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, citing alleged misconduct. President Tinubu responded on March 18 by declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending the governor, his deputy, and all state lawmakers for an initial six-month period. He appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, former Chief of Naval Staff, as the state’s sole administrator—an action that sparked widespread debate over its legality.
Although Fubara was not expected to be reinstated until the emergency order expired in September, multiple sources within the Presidency have confirmed that Tinubu is prepared to restore the governor to office this month. According to insiders, the decision followed a private reconciliation meeting held Thursday night at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, involving Tinubu, Fubara, Wike, and several lawmakers.
“Fubara is happy with the peace brokered by the President,” a source familiar with the talks said. “Given the way things have progressed—Fubara and Wike were recently seen riding together and exchanging pleasantries—the deal for Fubara’s return is sealed.”
Responding to inquiries about the expected timing of the reinstatement, a Presidency insider stated, “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.”
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