Tinubu reinstates Rivers governor Fubara and Assembly under peace deal with Wike, ending six-month political crisis and suspensions in Rivers State
Tinubu reinstates Rivers governor Siminalayi Fubara following a shocking political settlement brokered at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Also read: Rivers State Truce Hailed as Sign of Democratic Maturity Amidst Crisis
The move ends a bitter standoff that crippled governance in Rivers State for over six months. Fubara is set to return to office alongside the State House of Assembly in July.
President Bola Tinubu’s decisive intervention followed months of escalating political tension between Fubara and his predecessor, Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.
The conflict peaked in March 2025, prompting Tinubu to impose a state of emergency. At the time, he suspended the governor, his deputy, and all lawmakers, citing growing insecurity, sabotage of national assets, and political unrest.
Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) was appointed as sole administrator to stabilise the state. The crisis deepened with violent protests, pipeline bombings, and disputed local elections that were later annulled by the Supreme Court.
The court also reinstated the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers, including suspended Speaker Martins Amaewhule.
A closed-door reconciliation meeting chaired by Tinubu last week has now changed the course of the crisis. Sources familiar with the meeting confirmed that Tinubu told Fubara to prepare to resume duties once he returns from diplomatic engagements in Saint Lucia and Brazil.
Key terms of the peace deal have already emerged. Fubara will complete his tenure but will not seek re-election in 2027.
In exchange, all impeachment proceedings against him will be dropped. Wike will nominate chairmen for all 23 local government councils, ensuring his continued political influence in the state.
The agreement also compels Fubara to pay all outstanding allowances to the reinstated pro-Wike lawmakers.
Furthermore, Fubara has agreed to dissolve all his support groups, most notably the “Simplified Movement,” a political structure seen as defiant to Wike’s authority.
Presidency sources denied speculation that Fubara would be forced to resign after his reinstatement, but they confirmed that his executive power will be limited under the new arrangement.
The compromise is seen as a political trade-off to prevent further destabilisation in the oil-rich state.
“This peace is not cosmetic. We are members of the same political family and have resolved to move forward,” Wike said after the meeting.
Fubara also addressed the media, affirming that “peace has returned to Rivers State and will be sustained.”
Political observers note that the crisis reflects deeper fractures in Rivers State’s power structure, where control over local government, revenue, and appointments has often led to internal PDP battles.
Tinubu’s peace deal may calm the waters temporarily but leaves the governor politically weakened.
The reinstatement is expected to be formalised through an executive proclamation before the end of July.
Meanwhile, reactions across the state remain mixed. Supporters of Fubara welcome his return, but many express concern about the limits of his autonomy going forward.
Civil society groups have urged both camps to prioritise good governance and restore public trust.
“Peace must not come at the cost of democracy,” one activist remarked. “The people of Rivers deserve a leadership that is accountable and not merely imposed through political calculations.”
Also read: Supporters Shocked as Fubara Embraces Peace with Wike
As the dust settles, all eyes are now on how the power-sharing deal unfolds in practice, and whether Rivers State can regain political stability and economic momentum in the coming months.
