Wike and Lawmakers Meet Fubara in Rivers State

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, met on Sunday with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara at his home in Port Harcourt. He was joined by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and local government chairmen.

This meeting comes two weeks after Wike led members of the Rainbow Coalition, including the APC candidate for the 2027 elections, Kingsley Chinda, to see the governor. This was Wike's first visit to Fubara's residence since he became FCT minister.

Many see this meeting as a way to continue talks between the two groups. They want to strengthen reconciliation efforts after some peace returned to the state.

Wike’s team included state lawmakers, the Speaker Martin Amaewhule, and the chairmen of the state’s 23 local governments. Kingsley Chinda, the APC candidate for the 2027 election, was part of the group.

Details of the meeting are not fully known yet. But sources say they aimed to build on past discussions and find ways to bring Fubara’s loyalists into the state’s changing political scene.

Fubara and the Amaewhule-led House of Assembly had disagreements for over two years. This tension started with a conflict between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike.

At one point, lawmakers tried to impeach the governor twice before President Bola Tinubu stepped in. In October 2023, violence increased between the two groups, leading to a bombing at the House of Assembly complex on Moscow Road.

This conflict divided the state further, with militant groups threatening oil installations. Tinubu took notice and declared a state of emergency in Rivers State in March 2025 for six months.

As a result, the governor, his deputy, and the House of Assembly members were suspended. Tinubu appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas to manage the state during this time. The elected officials later returned to their roles.

The meeting on Sunday is important because it brings together key people from both sides of the conflict, including the governor, legislative leaders, and local government chairmen who support Wike.

The involvement of the Speaker, lawmakers, and council chairmen also adds more voices from Wike’s camp in the reconciliation talks.

This renewed dialogue between the executive and legislative branches might help calm the political situation in the state ahead of the 2027 elections.

But it is still unclear if these talks will lead to a lasting solution. There are worries about Wike’s camp influencing local government leadership and choosing candidates for the upcoming elections. It is also uncertain how Fubara’s loyalists will fit into the new political setup.