The Outcome Of Tinubu Meeting With Wike And Fubara

President Bola Tinubu on Sunday night held a closed-door meeting with key political stakeholders from Rivers State, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in a renewed effort to resolve the protracted political crisis in the oil-rich state.

The meeting, which took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja and was reportedly attended by other Rivers leaders, represents the fourth major intervention by the President in the ongoing power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Wike.

Key discussion at the meeting

Although official details were not released, sources indicated that talks focused on critical political demands linked to the crisis. These reportedly included questions around whether Governor Fubara had relinquished his second-term ambition and agreed to cede political control of Rivers State,conditions widely associated with Wike’s camp.

It remains unclear whether lawmakers loyal to Wike will withdraw the impeachment notice earlier issued against the governor, a development many observers see as central to de-escalating tensions.

Background to the crisis

Rivers State has remained politically unstable since the fallout between Governor Fubara and Wike, who played a decisive role in Fubara’s emergence as governor in 2023.

The dispute quickly escalated into a full-blown crisis marked by a split in the Rivers State House of Assembly, the emergence of parallel political structures, and repeated threats of impeachment against the governor.

Fubara’s recent defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) further altered the political landscape, raising questions about whether the ruling party at the federal level would shield him from removal or support a second-term bid.

Despite several reconciliation efforts by party leaders and stakeholders, tensions persisted, fueling concerns about governance and political stability in the state.

What were the issues

The rift between Wike and his political protégé surfaced shortly after Fubara assumed office in May 2023. Tensions intensified in October when pro-Wike lawmakers in the State Assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against the governor.

In response, Fubara ordered the demolition of the Assembly complex following a mysterious fire and relocated legislative sittings to temporary facilities. The standoff plunged the state into a prolonged governance crisis.
President Tinubu intervened in December 2023, brokering a fragile peace deal that saw Fubara concede several political appointments to Wike’s allies. However, the agreement soon collapsed.

By March 18, 2025, the crisis had escalated to the point where Tinubu declared a state of emergency, suspending Fubara’s executive powers for six months over security concerns and administrative paralysis. A sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), was appointed.

The emergency rule ended in September 2025 following another presidential intervention, but tensions resurfaced months later as the Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly issued a fresh impeachment notice against the governor.

Outcome of the meeting

Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister Nyesom Wike were seen leaving the Presidential Villa together in the same vehicle on Sunday night, despite arriving separately. Presidency officials familiar with the meeting described the gesture as symbolic, suggesting a possible thaw in their long-running political feud.

Further reports indicated that Governor Fubara accompanied Wike to his residence in Guzape, Abuja, after the meeting. Unconfirmed accounts also claimed that Fubara appealed to the minister and pledged to avoid actions that could be interpreted as disrespectful, a move seen as a potential step toward reconciliation.

While uncertainty remains, President Tinubu’s latest intervention is viewed as a strategic effort to restore peace, stabilise governance, and prevent further escalation of the political crisis in Rivers State.