A political rift that once shook Rivers State is showing fresh signs of easing.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Sunday hosted Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara at his Port Harcourt residence as efforts to cement a political reconciliation between the two men continued.
The meeting was their first known face-to-face encounter since Fubara said he would not contest the 2027 governorship election.
Key Political Figures Join Meeting
Wike was accompanied by Kingsley Chinda, the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Rivers State, and Magnus Abe, who heads the Rainbow Coalition reconciliation committee.
Fubara attended with Sam Jaja, a former Deputy National Chairman of the APC.
The gathering came as both camps pursue a settlement after months of political tension that deeply divided the state’s political structure.
How the Wike-Fubara Dispute Began
Relations between Wike and Fubara deteriorated soon after Fubara took office as governor in 2023.
The disagreement escalated into a prolonged political battle, with rival camps clashing over control of the state’s political machinery.
At one stage, lawmakers aligned with Wike initiated impeachment proceedings against Fubara, further intensifying the crisis.
The confrontation eventually contributed to President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State.
From Political War to Reconciliation
The two camps later moved toward a truce.
As part of the emerging settlement, Fubara joined the APC and aligned with the Wike-backed Rainbow Coalition, marking a major shift in the political landscape.
Wike subsequently announced that his dispute with Fubara was over. He said the governor had agreed to reconnect with the political structure that supported his emergence as governor in 2023.
Following that declaration, a reconciliation committee led by Magnus Abe was established to engage Fubara and his supporters.
Sunday’s meeting now adds another significant step to that reconciliation process.
Whether the rapprochement will produce a lasting political settlement remains a key question ahead of the 2027 elections.