President Bola Tinubu intervenes in Rivers State political crisis, halting impeachment moves and aiming to stabilise party leadership amid tensions
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday, February 10, 2026, intervened in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, ordering the immediate suspension of impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
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The intervention comes after previous attempts by the President, including an eight-point peace deal in December 2023 and the imposition of a six-month state of emergency in March 2025, failed to restore lasting peace in the state.
The dispute stems from tensions between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who has been backing members of the Rivers State House of Assembly in moves against the governor.
Analysts describe the conflict as a struggle for control of state machinery, which escalated to impeachment threats and the partial demolition of the House of Assembly complex to prevent lawmakers from convening.
Tinubu’s first intervention, the December 2023 peace deal, briefly halted impeachment efforts, but critics argued the terms favoured Wike and weakened Fubara’s political influence.
The subsequent six-month emergency rule, which suspended the governor, his deputy, and all lawmakers, ended in September 2025 with little change, as political actors returned to confrontations shortly thereafter.
The latest crisis intensified on January 8, 2026, when 27 Wike-backed lawmakers announced impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu.
Attempts by some lawmakers to retract their support provided temporary relief, but the full bloc ultimately reinstated the impeachment motion.
Fubara and his deputy sought judicial intervention, securing court orders that temporarily restrained the House from establishing an investigative panel.
In the newest intervention, President Tinubu mandated the suspension of any impeachment-related moves.
The order, however, included conditions that effectively recognised Wike as the undisputed political leader in Rivers State.
This acknowledgment contradicts APC tradition, which generally designates incumbent governors as party leaders within their states.
Report was made that Tinubu asked, “Is Babajide Sanwo-Olu my leader in Lagos, or was Babatunde Fashola my leader when he was governor?” The statement reflects the departure from party convention, reinforcing Wike’s influence over party affairs in Rivers.
While the President’s latest directive temporarily halts the impeachment process, Governor Fubara must make significant concessions to accommodate Wike’s authority.
Whether these concessions and the unusual recognition of Wike as the political leader will end the protracted crisis remains uncertain.
Also read: Tinubu Holds Key Meeting to Resolve Rivers State Political Crisis
Political observers note that the events in the coming months will determine if the intervention produces lasting stability in Rivers State.
