Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Sunday led members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, local government chairmen and other political leaders to a closed-door meeting with Governor Siminalayi Fubara in Port Harcourt.
The meeting, which took place at the governor’s private residence on Sunday evening, came amid renewed efforts to reconcile the two political camps ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Although the agenda was not officially disclosed, sources said the discussions were aimed at consolidating reconciliation efforts, resolving lingering disagreements and exploring ways to accommodate Fubara’s loyalists in the emerging political arrangement.
The visit was significant as it marked the first time Wike and the lawmakers had visited Fubara at his residence since the political crisis that strained relations between the governor and his predecessor.
The delegation included members of the state assembly led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Kingsley Chinda, the 23 local government chairmen and other members of the Rainbow Coalition.
The gathering followed an earlier engagement in which Wike led members of the Rainbow Coalition, including Chinda, to meet with Fubara as part of efforts to bridge the divisions within the state’s political leadership.
Those present reportedly appeared cheerful at the end of Sunday's meeting, with Wike, Fubara, the lawmakers and local government chairmen exchanging pleasantries.
A video recorded at the entrance of the residence showed Amaewhule and other lawmakers greeting the governor, shaking his hand and addressing him as “Your Excellency”. Fubara responded with smiles before rejoining Wike and other members of the delegation for a group photograph.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of a prolonged political crisis between Fubara and the Amaewhule-led House of Assembly, which emerged from a bitter disagreement between the governor and Wike.
During the height of the crisis, lawmakers made two attempts to impeach Fubara, deepening divisions within the state’s political establishment.
The dispute eventually prompted President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, resulting in the suspension of the governor and other elected officials.
Despite subsequent reconciliation efforts, tensions persisted over the political future of the governor and the distribution of influence within the state’s ruling political structure.
Wike, who remains a central figure in the political camp, has ruled out supporting Fubara for a second term and thrown his weight behind Chinda as the party’s candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
However, with the next general election approaching, the latest meeting suggests a renewed attempt to reunite political allies who became divided during the crisis.
Whether the engagement will lead to a lasting settlement, particularly over Fubara’s political future and the interests of his loyalists, remains uncertain.
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