by Willy Okonji ~
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has moved again to douse the raging political crisis in Rivers State, ordering an immediate suspension of impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and laying down new political conditions to restore stability in the state.
Paparazzi Online gathered that the latest presidential intervention came shortly before Tinubu departed for an official visit to Türkiye on January 26. The move followed months of failed reconciliation efforts that had plunged Rivers into legislative paralysis, rising political tension and governance uncertainty.
A senior source familiar with the meeting said the President was blunt about the dangers of the feud.
“Mr President made it clear that the impeachment drama must stop now. He warned that what is happening in Rivers is no longer just a local issue but a threat to democratic governance and national political stability,” the source disclosed.
This is Tinubu’s second major attempt to calm the Rivers storm. In December 2023, he brokered a truce between the camps of Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, but the agreement later collapsed, culminating in the declaration of a six-month emergency rule in the state on March 18, 2025, during which Fubara was suspended.
Tinubu Draws Political Red Lines
Another insider said the President expressed deep frustration over the depth of the crisis.
“He told both sides that Rivers is too strategic to be held hostage by personal and political battles. He warned that continued hostilities could destabilise the state and affect broader national politics ahead of 2027,” the source said.
Tinubu reportedly directed Wike to end all impeachment-related manoeuvres and allow the machinery of government to function. At the same time, Governor Fubara was cautioned to respect political seniority and established party structures.
“The President drew parallels with Lagos politics. He said personal disagreements do not erase hierarchy, and that Wike should be treated as an elder statesman in Rivers political affairs,” another source added.
How the Crisis Began
The rift between Fubara and Wike opened barely weeks after Fubara’s inauguration in May 2023, despite Wike’s pivotal role in his emergence as governor.
Tension grew as Fubara sought to assert his authority, resisting what his allies described as Wike’s attempts to retain control of state affairs from Abuja. The struggle split Rivers politics down the middle, with a majority of lawmakers aligning with Wike.
“Wike’s camp believes Fubara betrayed the political family that made him governor, while Fubara’s supporters insist Rivers cannot be governed from Abuja by a former governor now serving as FCT minister,” a party source explained.
Repeated impeachment threats by the pro-Wike faction of the House of Assembly kept Fubara under pressure, while several mediation efforts failed to deliver lasting peace.
Assembly By-Elections and Party Direction
As part of the fresh arrangement, Tinubu reportedly instructed the APC leadership to recognise candidates loyal to Wike in the forthcoming Rivers State House of Assembly by-elections.
“The President insisted that Wike-backed aspirants for Ahoada East II and Khana II must be accommodated within the party structure,” a source close to the talks said.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed February 21, 2026, for the by-elections. The Ahoada East II seat became vacant after Edison Ehie resigned to become Chief of Staff to Governor Fubara, while the Khana II seat has remained vacant since the death of its lawmaker, Dinebari Loolo, in September 2023.
Second-Term Question Put Aside
Discussions also touched on Fubara’s second-term ambition, but the issue was deliberately shelved.
“Mr President said any talk about 2027 is premature. His focus now is stabilising Rivers and restoring normal governance,” another insider revealed.
Despite Wike’s influence, the situation remains delicate, as he is still formally a member of the opposition PDP in Rivers State while serving as a senior minister in the APC-led federal government.
For now, Tinubu’s intervention has frozen the impeachment plot. Whether it will produce lasting peace in Rivers State, however, remains to be seen.
