President Bola Tinubu is reportedly planning to reinstate the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and members of the State House of Assembly later this month, following a fresh peace agreement brokered between Fubara and his predecessor, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Sources at the Presidential Villa revealed to The PUNCH that the development follows a closed-door reconciliation meeting held last Thursday night in Abuja.
The meeting was attended by President Tinubu, Governor Fubara, Wike, the suspended Speaker Martins Amaewhule, and several lawmakers.
Rivers State was plunged into political turmoil on March 18, 2025, when President Tinubu declared a state of emergency, suspending the governor, his deputy, and the entire State House of Assembly.
The President cited worsening security conditions, including pipeline vandalism by suspected militants, and accused the state government of inaction.
The crisis traces back to a political fallout between Fubara and Wike in late 2023, which led to efforts by 27 pro-Wike lawmakers to impeach the governor.
Although Tinubu had previously intervened in October 2023 with a peace meeting, the truce collapsed shortly after.
In 2024, a Port Harcourt High Court gave four pro-Fubara lawmakers the green light to carry on legislative duties despite opposition from the larger Wike-aligned faction, deepening the power struggle.
The conflict also witnessed a string of violent events.
A section of the Assembly was bombed on the eve of Fubara’s attempted impeachment. Explosions were also reported near Hotel Presidential during pro-Wike protests, and political violence marred the December 2023 local government elections, with two LGA offices and the APC secretariat set ablaze.
In a legal twist, the Supreme Court later reinstated Martins Amaewhule and other pro-Wike lawmakers as legitimate Assembly members and nullified the LGA polls conducted under Fubara’s administration.
The Assembly gave the governor a 48-hour deadline to re-present the state budget, but he was blocked from accessing the complex.
Tensions peaked in March 2025 when the Assembly served Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, with fresh impeachment notices.
Tinubu responded by imposing a six-month emergency rule in the state and appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator—an unprecedented move that stirred public debate over its constitutionality.
Although the suspension was expected to last until September, multiple Presidency sources now indicate that Tinubu is ready to restore Fubara to office as early as this month, following the success of Thursday’s reconciliation meeting.
“Governor Fubara welcomed the President’s peace efforts,” a source familiar with the negotiations disclosed.
“There’s been visible progress—Fubara and Wike were even seen together recently, exchanging pleasantries. It’s clear the deal has been sealed.”
One insider noted that the President is likely to announce Fubara’s return once he completes his diplomatic visit to Saint Lucia and Brazil, where he is expected to attend the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro from July 6–7.
Another source confirmed that during the Thursday meeting, Tinubu personally advised Fubara to prepare to resume duties, signaling a return to constitutional governance in the state.
There had been rumours that Fubara’s reinstatement might be tied to a conditional resignation, but a Presidential aide dismissed the claim, saying, “No one asked the governor to resign. While terms were agreed upon, resignation was never part of the conditions.”
However, The Cable reported that the reconciliation terms limit Fubara’s influence.
According to sources, the governor will not seek a second term in 2027, will relinquish control over local government affairs, and will generally have reduced political authority.
Another insider commented, “The President made it clear that Rivers cannot afford a prolonged crisis. The peace deal was necessary, but it came at a cost to the governor.”
One of the main terms of the deal, according to reports, is that Fubara will complete his current tenure but will not pursue re-election. In exchange, all impeachment moves against him will be dropped.
Additionally, Wike is expected to nominate chairpersons for all 23 local government areas in the state—restoring key grassroots political control to the former governor.