Wike, Rivers Assembly Members, LG Chairmen Hold Closed-Door Meeting with Fubara

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has led members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, local government chairmen and other political leaders to a closed-door meeting with Governor Siminalayi Fubara in Port Harcourt.

The meeting, which took place at the governor’s private residence on Sunday evening, was held amid ongoing efforts to reconcile rival political camps in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Although the agenda of the meeting was not officially disclosed, political sources indicated that the discussions were part of efforts to resolve lingering disagreements between supporters of Wike and those loyal to Fubara.

The meeting marked the first time Wike and the lawmakers visited the governor at his residence since the political crisis that strained relations between the two camps.

The delegation was led by Wike and included the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, members of the assembly, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Kingsley Chinda, the state’s 23 local government chairmen and other members of the Rainbow Coalition.

The gathering followed an earlier meeting in which Wike had led members of the Rainbow Coalition, including Chinda, to meet with Fubara as part of efforts to rebuild political relationships in the state.

Sunday’s engagement was reportedly aimed at consolidating the reconciliation process, ending the prolonged political division and exploring ways to accommodate Fubara’s supporters within the emerging political arrangement ahead of the 2027 elections.

Although details of the discussions remained undisclosed, the atmosphere at the end of the meeting appeared cordial, with Wike, Fubara, the lawmakers and other members of the delegation exchanging pleasantries and posing for photographs.

In a video recorded at the governor’s residence, Amaewhule and other lawmakers were seen greeting Fubara, shaking his hand and addressing him as “Your Excellency.”

The governor responded with smiles before rejoining Wike and other political leaders for a group photograph.

The meeting is seen as another significant development in efforts to ease political tensions in Rivers State, where disagreements between Wike and his successor have shaped the state’s political landscape for more than two years.

The crisis began following a prolonged dispute between Fubara and Wike, who served as governor of Rivers State before becoming FCT minister.

The disagreement subsequently deepened divisions within the Rivers State House of Assembly, with lawmakers loyal to the two political camps taking opposing positions on the governor’s administration.

At the height of the crisis, members of the Amaewhule-led assembly made two attempts to impeach Fubara before President Bola Tinubu intervened by declaring a state of emergency in the state and suspending the governor and other officials.

Despite subsequent reconciliation efforts, political differences persisted, particularly over the question of Fubara’s second-term ambition and the distribution of political positions ahead of the next election.

Wike had previously ruled out supporting Fubara for another term and endorsed Chinda as the preferred candidate for the 2027 governorship election under the party’s political arrangement.

However, with preparations for the next general elections gathering momentum, the FCT minister has reportedly intensified efforts to reunite members of his political camp and bring supporters from both sides together.

Sunday’s meeting is therefore being viewed as part of a broader effort to restore political cooperation among the leaders and stakeholders involved in the Rivers crisis.

Whether the latest engagement will lead to a lasting settlement, particularly on the governorship ticket and the interests of Fubara’s supporters, remains uncertain.

Nevertheless, the cordial atmosphere observed after the meeting has raised expectations that further discussions could help reduce tensions and reshape political alliances in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections.

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