The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Sunday led members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and chairmen of the state’s 23 local government areas to a meeting with Governor Siminalayi Fubara at his private residence in Port Harcourt.
The visit marked the first time Wike had met Fubara at his residence in the state capital and came about two weeks after the minister led members of the Rainbow Coalition, including Kingsley Chinda, to meet with the governor.
Chinda, identified in the report as the All Progressives Congress candidate for the 2027 general elections in the state, was also part of Sunday’s delegation.
The latest engagement is believed to be part of ongoing discussions between the two political camps to advance reconciliation efforts and consolidate the relative peace that has returned to Rivers State.
The delegation included the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, alongside lawmakers and the 23 local government chairmen, many of whom are associated with Wike’s political camp.
Although details of the closed-door meeting were not immediately disclosed, sources said the discussions focused on sustaining earlier engagements, strengthening efforts to reconcile the opposing camps and considering ways to include Fubara’s supporters in the state’s emerging political arrangement.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of a prolonged political dispute between Fubara and the Amaewhule-led House of Assembly, which stemmed from disagreements between the governor and his predecessor, Wike.
The crisis lasted for more than two years and escalated to the point where lawmakers made two attempts to impeach Fubara before President Bola Tinubu intervened.
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In October 2023, tensions intensified when a section of the state House of Assembly complex along Moscow Road was bombed. The political confrontation also deepened divisions across the state, while suspected militant groups threatened attacks on oil installations.
The situation eventually prompted Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State in March 2025 for an initial six-month period.
The emergency rule resulted in the suspension of Fubara, his deputy and members of the state legislature. Tinubu subsequently appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas as the state’s administrator before the elected officials later returned to office.
Sunday’s meeting brought together prominent figures from the rival political camps, including the governor, the leadership of the state legislature and local government chairmen aligned with Wike.
The presence of the Speaker, other lawmakers and council chairmen also underscored the involvement of political structures associated with the FCT minister in the ongoing reconciliation process.
The renewed dialogue could contribute to political stability in Rivers State as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
However, questions remain over whether the discussions will lead to a lasting settlement, particularly regarding Wike’s influence over local government leadership and the choice of candidates for the forthcoming elections.
It also remains uncertain how far Fubara’s loyalists will be accommodated in any political arrangement emerging from the reconciliation efforts.