Efforts to resolve the prolonged political crisis in Rivers State have gained fresh momentum following a meeting between Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and other political stakeholders.
The meeting, held at Fubara’s private residence in Port Harcourt on Sunday, October 18, brought together members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, local government chairmen and other political figures associated with Wike’s Rainbow Coalition.
Among those present were the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda.
The gathering was part of renewed efforts to reconcile the opposing political camps following years of disagreements that affected relations between the governor and lawmakers in the state.
According to reports by TheCable and Vanguard, the discussions focused on strengthening the reconciliation process and finding ways to accommodate different political interests ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Although the details of the closed-door meeting were not officially disclosed, participants were reportedly seen exchanging greetings and posing for photographs after the engagement.
Assembly Recalls Three Lawmakers
In a related development, the Rivers State House of Assembly on Monday, October 19, reversed its earlier decision to declare the seats of three lawmakers loyal to Fubara vacant.
The affected lawmakers are Victor Oko-Jumbo, representing Bonny Constituency; Sokari Goodboy Sokari, representing Ahoada West Constituency; and Orubienimigha Timothy, representing Opobo/Nkoro Constituency.
The decision followed separate letters of appeal submitted by the lawmakers and read during plenary by Speaker Martin Amaewhule.
In their appeals, the lawmakers explained that they had not received or seen the correspondence notifying them that their suspensions had been lifted in December 2023. They said this explained their failure to return to legislative sittings and asked the Assembly to reconsider its earlier decision.
After deliberations, members voted in favour of reversing the declaration that had rendered their seats vacant. The Speaker subsequently directed the lawmakers to resume their legislative duties.
The Assembly had declared the seats vacant in October 2025 after the lawmakers failed to attend sittings following the lifting of their suspensions. It had also notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) about plans to conduct by-elections to fill the positions.
The latest decision followed renewed engagement between Fubara, Wike and other political stakeholders.
Background to the Rivers Political Crisis
The disagreement between Fubara and Wike began in 2023, after Fubara succeeded Wike as governor of Rivers State.
The dispute escalated into a struggle for political influence and control of the state legislature, dividing lawmakers into opposing camps.
In October 2023, the crisis deepened after a fire damaged part of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex. Lawmakers aligned with Wike subsequently initiated impeachment proceedings against Fubara, further straining relations between the executive and legislative arms of government.
President Bola Tinubu intervened in December 2023 in an attempt to resolve the dispute. However, the peace efforts failed to bring about a lasting settlement.
The situation deteriorated further in March 2025 when Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State. The measure led to the suspension of Fubara, his deputy and members of the state legislature for six months.
Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas was appointed administrator during the emergency period.
The emergency rule ended in September 2025, allowing the elected officials to return to their positions. Nevertheless, disagreements over political leadership and the relationship between the governor and the Assembly continued.
2027 Election Raises Political Stakes
The latest reconciliation efforts are taking place as political parties and stakeholders prepare for the 2027 general elections.
Fubara has aligned himself with the Rainbow Coalition led by Wike and reportedly endorsed Chinda as his preferred successor in the forthcoming governorship election.
The political arrangement has raised questions about how the governor’s loyalists will be accommodated and whether both camps can maintain a lasting understanding.
The involvement of the 23 local government chairmen and lawmakers in the latest meeting highlights the importance of reaching an agreement among the state’s political leaders.
However, it remains uncertain whether the renewed engagement will permanently resolve the disagreements that have divided Rivers State’s political leadership.
The recall of the three lawmakers represents a significant development in the reconciliation process, but the durability of the emerging political settlement will depend on how the parties manage their differences in the coming months.
Sources: The Guardian Nigeria, TheCable, Vanguard, and Channels Television.
Original reports:
– The Guardian: https://guardian.ng/news/fubara-wike-meet-oko-jumbo-lawmakers-as-assembly-resumption-looms/
– TheCable: https://www.thecable.ng/wike-leads-rivers-lawmakers-23-council-chairmen-to-fresh-meeting-with-fubara/
– Channels Television: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/10/19/rivers-assembly-reinstates-three-pro-fubara-lawmakers-rescinds-declaration-of-vacant-seats/
