Rivers State tensions re-emerge as Wike-aligned lawmakers prepare to square off again with Governor Fubara
With peace supposedly restored three months ago between Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and his political protégé, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the stage is being set for yet another clash among key actors in Rivers State.
DAILY POST has learned that the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule and comprised largely of Wike loyalists, is gearing up for a fresh confrontation with the governor.
To recall, a brutal power struggle between Wike and Fubara over control of the state’s political machinery erupted in late 2023, a few months after Fubara took office. The conflict intensified in 2024 when Amaewhule-led lawmakers joined the fray.
In December 2023, about 27 lawmakers loyal to the FCT Minister defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The shift did not sit well with Fubara’s camp, and on July 6, 2024, Fubara-backed lawmakers declared their seats vacant, escalating tensions.
The crisis persisted until May 18, 2025, when President Bola Tinubu imposed a six-month state of emergency in Rivers, suspending Fubara, his deputy, and members of the State House of Assembly. A breakthrough came on July 27, 2025, when Tinubu met with Fubara, Wike, and Amaewhule at the State House and brokered a peace deal.
But a new flare-up began brewing on December 1, 2025, after Amaewhule publicly criticized Fubara’s administration. He accused the government of neglecting public primary and secondary schools, stating in a viral video that the situation was unacceptable and embarrassing.
Amaewhule highlighted alarming decay in the state’s public schools: vandalism on campus grounds, teaching in facilities without qualified teachers, and a scenario where one teacher is compelled to teach two classes at once.
Subsequently, on December 5, 2025, Amaewhule and 15 other Assembly members defected from Fubara’s PDP to the ruling APC, signaling yet another wave in Rivers politics. The defectors include Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol (Gokana); Major Jack (Akuku-Toru); Linda Stewart (Okrika); Franklin Nwabochi (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni); Azeru Opara (Port Harcourt 3); Smart Adoki (Port Harcourt 2); Enemi George (Asari-Toru 2); Solomon Wami (Port Harcourt 1); as well as Aforji (Eleme); Tekena Wellington (Asari-Toru 1); Looloo Opuende (Akuku-Toru 2); Peter Abbey (Degema); Arnold Dennis (Ogu/Bolo); Chimezie Nwankwo (Etche); and Ofiks Kabang (Andoni).
The Assembly also raised concerns about Fubara’s delay in submitting a list of commissioner-nominees for screening, a sign of lingering discord. During the first sitting after the emergency rule lapsed in September 2025, the Assembly urged the governor to forward a fresh slate of commissioners to support effective governance. Fubara had previously dismissed all commissioners appointed during the crisis, stating they had not undergone screening by the constitutionally recognized Assembly per a Supreme Court ruling. Yet he has not delivered a new list, fueling another standoff.
The mood in Rivers is tense. Leaders and observers warn against turning political rivalries into a burden on the populace. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State cautioned that another cycle of crisis is unnecessary and urged lawmakers and other parties to prioritize the people’s welfare over personal or partisan interests. The ADC leader argued that the peace achieved earlier appeared to serve narrow interests, not the broader public good, and cautioned that aggressive moves against the governor could destabilize the state.
On the PDP side, Austin Okai questioned why Fubara remains isolated within his party after reconciliation efforts. He asserted that Wike’s coalition shifted toward the APC, leaving Fubara with diminished support, and claimed some of the governor’s allies had abandoned him after returning to their former alignments.
In sum, Rivers State stands at a crossroads, with the risk of renewed confrontation looming as political actors reassemble and old fault lines reopen. The central question remains: will governance and development take precedence over factional brinkmanship, or will this renewed struggle drag the state back into a cycle of instability? Would-be observers and residents alike are watching closely for signs of compromise or renewed conflict, and many are urging a focus on schools, security, and steady administration rather than political theatrics.
