President Bola Tinubu has reportedly agreed to reinstate the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, on the condition that he will not seek re-election in 2027
CANDID REPORTERS learnt that the latest development was reached during a closed-door meeting on Thursday night at the Presidential Villa, with Tinubu alongside the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, Fubara, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other political leaders from Rivers State.
Sources described Thursday night’s meeting as a breakthrough in Tinubu’s push to reconcile Wike and the governor, but at the cost of Fubara giving up significant powers in exchange for political survival.
Sources in the presidency said Fubara will be reinstated to complete his four-year tenure but must forgo any plans to seek a second term in 2027, a move that will limit his clout, to which he has agreed.
The deal was part of a broader effort to restore democratic order in Rivers and involves significant concessions.
Fubara at the meeting also agreed to pay all outstanding allowances and entitlements owed to the 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike who were suspended from the state assembly, and the lawmakers will not initiate any impeachment proceedings against him.
Recall that suspended legislators led by Amaewhule had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) amid the power tussle but continued to lay claim to their seats.
Their status as lawmakers has been a subject of legal and political debate.
Another source also described Wike as the real winner in the reconciliation deal, noting that as part of the conditions, the Minister would be allowed to nominate all the local government chairpersons across the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
The source in the presidency said the decision would serve as significant political leverage, restoring Wike’s grassroots control.
“The arrangement is clear: no second term, no local government control, and peace will return.
“The president made it clear that Rivers cannot afford a prolonged crisis. The deal is about restoring calm, but it comes at a steep cost for Fubara.
“Wike is the real winner here. By controlling the local government chairmen, he retains significant influence over the state’s political machinery, which will be crucial for 2027,” the source said.
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