President Bola Tinubu has stepped in to resolve the escalating political standoff in Rivers State, securing a truce that permits Governor Siminalayi Fubara to continue in office, albeit under stringent and politically sensitive terms.
According to multiple insider sources, the peace accord was finalized during a high-level closed-door meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on the evening of Thursday, June 27, 2025. Attendees at the meeting included Governor Fubara, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, suspended Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker Martin Amaewhule, and several lawmakers aligned with both camps.
The meeting, which was chaired by President Tinubu himself, was described as tense but productive, resulting in a deal designed to put an end to the months-long power tussle that has destabilized governance in the oil-rich state.
As part of the agreement, Governor Fubara has been granted permission to complete his current term in office without further interference. However, in return, he has reportedly agreed not to seek re-election in the upcoming 2027 general elections, effectively ending his political ambition for a second term as governor.
Furthermore, the deal restores considerable influence to former governor Wike, who is said to have been granted the exclusive right to nominate all 23 local government chairpersons across Rivers State. This strategic move reaffirms Wike’s dominance at the grassroots level, solidifying his control over local politics and ensuring the loyalty of political structures ahead of the 2027 elections.
In another critical clause of the agreement, Fubara will pay all previously withheld allowances and entitlements to the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers who were suspended amid the crisis. These lawmakers, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the heat of the conflict, have agreed not to pursue any impeachment proceedings against the governor, effectively halting any legislative threat to his tenure.
Although their defection from the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) has raised constitutional questions and remains the subject of ongoing legal disputes, the lawmakers maintain that they retain full legislative authority and control.
President Tinubu, according to sources, emphasized during the meeting that the instability in Rivers State must come to an end immediately to avoid economic and political repercussions. He reportedly insisted that national interest must take precedence over personal grievances and political maneuvering.
While the agreement marks a temporary truce, analysts point out that Governor Fubara's political future has been significantly compromised. The cost of maintaining his seat includes relinquishing ambitions for re-election and yielding substantial administrative control to his political rival.
Political observers note that the outcome of the peace talks positions Wike as the key powerbroker in Rivers politics, with his influence expected to shape the dynamics of the 2027 electoral cycle.