The political reconciliation between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, gathered fresh momentum on Sunday as Wike led a powerful delegation of state lawmakers and all 23 local government chairmen to the governor’s private residence in Port Harcourt.
The meeting brought together some of the principal actors on opposing sides of the political crisis that rocked Rivers State for more than two years, in another indication that efforts are intensifying to rebuild cooperation across the once-divided political family.
Wike arrived with members of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, the 23 council chairmen and other political figures. Also in the delegation was the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate for the 2027 election, Kingsley Chinda.
The gathering was significant because the Amaewhule-led Assembly had been at the centre of the bitter confrontation with Fubara, including impeachment moves against the governor during the height of the crisis.
Their appearance alongside Wike at Fubara’s residence therefore broadened the reconciliation beyond the two principal figures to embrace the legislative and local government structures that will be critical to restoring a stable political relationship in the state.
Sunday’s talks followed another meeting less than two weeks ago when Wike, Chinda and other members of the Rainbow Coalition met Fubara and his supporters. That closed-door engagement lasted about four hours, although neither side disclosed details of the discussions.
The latest meeting effectively brought the process another step forward by drawing the Assembly leadership and all 23 council chairmen directly into the engagement.
Although details of Sunday’s closed-door discussions were not immediately disclosed, the talks were understood to be aimed at consolidating the reconciliation and finding ways of accommodating the various political interests that had been separated by the prolonged feud.
The Wike-Fubara dispute had plunged Rivers into one of its deepest political crises since the return of democratic rule, splitting the political establishment and producing a prolonged confrontation between the governor and the Amaewhule-led legislature.
The crisis ultimately drew the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, who declared a state of emergency in Rivers in March 2025, suspending Fubara, his deputy and members of the Assembly while retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas administered the state during the emergency period.
Since the return of the elected officials, however, reconciliation efforts have progressively brought previously estranged political actors back into dialogue.
A reconciliation committee headed by former Senator Magnus Abe had earlier held meetings with Fubara and assured members of the political family that there would be no victimisation arising from their positions during the crisis.
Sunday’s enlarged meeting puts Wike, Fubara, Amaewhule, the lawmakers, council chairmen and other influential political actors around the same reconciliation table.
The development could prove particularly important as Rivers moves towards the 2027 elections and discussions continue over the place of Fubara’s supporters within the emerging political arrangement.
No formal announcement was made after the meeting.
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