The Rivers State House of Assembly has reversed its earlier move to declare the seats of three lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara vacant, in a development linked to renewed reconciliation efforts between the governor’s camp and supporters of t2027he Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The reported reversal followed a meeting between the two political camps at Fubara’s private residence in Port Harcourt on Sunday, where key political stakeholders gathered to discuss the ongoing reconciliation process.
The meeting was attended by Wike, members of the state House of Assembly, including Speaker Martin Amaewhule, and chairmen of the state’s 23 local government areas.
Other prominent attendees included Fubara’s former Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie; former Rivers East Senator, George Sekibo; and Chairman of the Rainbow Coalition Reconciliation Committee, Senator Magnus Abe.
The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Rivers State for the 2027 elections, Kingsley Chinda, also attended the meeting, alongside former state Attorney General, Adokiye Amiesimaka, former Peoples Democratic Party chairman in the state, Chukwuemeka Aaron, and other stakeholders.
Ehie’s appearance was particularly notable, having remained largely out of the public political spotlight for some time.
Although details of the discussions were not immediately made public, sources indicated that the engagement was aimed at building on previous talks, strengthening reconciliation and determining how Fubara’s loyalists could be accommodated in the state’s emerging political arrangement.
The Assembly’s reported decision to reverse its move against the three lawmakers is seen as a significant development in the efforts to ease tensions between the executive and legislative arms of government.
The latest engagement came about a fortnight after Wike led members of the Rainbow Coalition, including Chinda, to meet with Fubara as part of the renewed dialogue between the rival camps.
Sunday’s meeting also marked the first time Wike had visited the governor at his private residence in Port Harcourt.
The political dispute in Rivers State began following a disagreement between Fubara and Wike, his predecessor, which subsequently divided the governor and the Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.
At the height of the crisis, lawmakers made two attempts to impeach Fubara, while tensions escalated into wider political and security concerns.
In October 2023, a section of the state House of Assembly complex along Moscow Road in Port Harcourt was bombed amid the escalating dispute.
The crisis also prompted threats by suspected militant groups to attack oil installations, raising concerns over security and economic activities in the oil-producing state.
President Bola Tinubu intervened in March 2025 by declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State for an initial period of six months. The measure resulted in the suspension of the governor, his deputy and members of the state House of Assembly.
Tinubu subsequently appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas as administrator of the state during the emergency period, before the elected officials returned to office.
The latest reconciliation efforts bring together political figures who have been central to the dispute, including the governor, the legislative leadership and local government chairmen aligned with Wike.
However, questions remain over the extent to which Fubara’s supporters will be accommodated in the emerging political arrangement, particularly regarding legislative relations, local government leadership and the selection of candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Whether the renewed engagement will produce a lasting settlement between the two camps remains to be seen.
