Details Emerge on Wike-Fubara Peace Deal Amid Rivers Political Crisis
Suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, have reportedly reached a peace agreement aimed at ending the prolonged political impasse in the state and facilitating Fubara’s reinstatement. The development follows Governor Fubara’s recent visit to Wike in Abuja in what sources described as a reconciliatory move to mend their strained relationship and restore political stability to the oil-rich state.
According to reports by Vanguard, key terms of the agreement include a power-sharing formula that gives significant representation to Wike’s political allies—often referred to as the “Abuja political bloc”—in the appointment of commissioners and other top government officials. The formula is expected to be applied broadly across state appointments once normal democratic governance resumes in Rivers State, thereby consolidating Wike’s continued influence on the state’s political structure.
Furthermore, the upcoming local government elections scheduled for August 9, 2025, will proceed under terms favorable to Wike. The agreement reportedly guarantees the protection of his political interests during the election process. In line with this, changes are expected to be made to the composition of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to reflect the newly established power-sharing arrangement.
Notably, the selection of candidates for the local government elections will not be determined solely by party affiliation. Instead, candidates will be chosen based on their alignment with the broader political strategy outlined in the agreement, particularly their loyalty to the interests of the nominating political actors.
A central component of the agreement is the planned reinstatement of Siminalayi Fubara as governor. However, there remains widespread speculation about whether he will be able to govern autonomously or if his actions will be heavily influenced by external political forces tied to the agreement.
Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is reportedly facing mounting pressure to reinstate Fubara and restore full democratic order to Rivers State by May 29, 2025—Nigeria’s Democracy Day. Since the federal government declared a state of emergency on March 18, 2025, relative calm has returned to the state. However, the continued suspension of the governor, his deputy, and the state’s legislative body has created a vacuum in both political leadership and economic governance.
As the countdown to May 29 intensifies, stakeholders across the political spectrum are watching closely to see whether President Tinubu will act decisively to reinstate Fubara and bring a lasting resolution to the crisis that has gripped Rivers State for months.
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