Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Port Harcourt, Nigeria — In a fresh twist to the protracted political crisis engulfing Rivers State, sources close to the conflict have disclosed that Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former governor of Rivers, has proposed stringent conditions intended to halt ongoing impeachment threats against Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The development comes amid intense negotiations and peace efforts aimed at averting further escalation of the standoff that has disrupted governance in the oil‑rich state.
Political stakeholders say Wike’s conditions emerged against the backdrop of a stalled peace process and competing power interests within state politics. Though Wike has largely maintained a public silence about his specific demands, pressure from lawmakers and political actors has brought renewed attention to the terms being discussed behind closed doors.
At the centre of the crisis is the threat of impeachment proceedings initiated by lawmakers loyal to Wike and aligned with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) faction in the Rivers State House of Assembly. The lawmakers have accused Governor Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, of alleged gross misconduct, prompting a constitutional and political standoff with the executive arm of government.
Amid these developments, a Rivers High Court has issued an interim injunction temporarily halting the impeachment process, restraining key figures — including the Speaker of the House of Assembly and the state Chief Judge — from advancing the impeachment. The order, granted earlier this week, remains in force as the matter moves through legal channels.
Political insiders say the conditions Wike is pushing are aimed not simply at stopping impeachment, but at reshaping the state’s political landscape in ways that protect his influence and political capital. Part of this involves dialing down direct confrontation with Governor Fubara while insisting on structural concessions that would limit Fubara’s political mobility and strengthen Wike’s position in Rivers State.
One of the emerging requirements, according to credible sources, is that Governor Fubara forfeit his right to seek a second term in office, effectively capping his tenure at a single four‑year term ending in 2027. Such a concession would significantly alter the political calculations ahead of the next general election cycle.
In addition, Mr Wike’s circle is said to be insisting that Fubara step away from independent appointments and key executive decisions that exclude core stakeholders from decision‑making processes. These include proposals that the governor adopt a more inclusive approach to local political stakeholders and ensure that appointments within his administration reflect broader power‑sharing arrangements.
Another purported demand is the full settlement of outstanding allowances and entitlements owed to lawmakers loyal to Wike — a financial and political move seen as crucial to placating key legislative actors and averting further pushback against the governor.
Observers suggest that Wike’s strategy is both political and pragmatic: by extracting concessions that limit Fubara’s autonomy while strengthening factional influence in Rivers politics, the FCT Minister aims to neutralise threats to his influence and forestall future confrontations. Critics, however, argue that such conditions undermine democratic processes by tying political survival to factional negotiations rather than legal accountability or electoral choice.
Efforts to forge a sustainable resolution have included intervention by the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), which inaugurated a high‑powered peace and reconciliation committee chaired by Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN) earlier this month. The committee has been given a short timeframe to produce recommendations that can defuse hostilities and return the state to normal governance.
The involvement of PANDEF comes amid growing national concern over the impact of Rivers State’s political crisis on governance, investment, and public confidence. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has previously intervened in the dispute, including through a now‑concluded state of emergency in 2025 that temporarily suspended the governor, deputy governor and the House of Assembly in an attempt to restore order.
For now, the impeachment process remains legally paused and politically fraught, with stakeholders in Rivers State watching closely as negotiations, legal challenges and strategic condition‑setting continue. Whether Wike’s conditions will succeed in halting the impeachment threat — and what concessions Governor Fubara might be willing to make — remains a matter of intense speculation among political observers and local constituents alike.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments