President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has once again intervened to defuse the escalating political crisis between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor and estranged godfather, Nyesom Wike, directing that impeachment proceedings against the governor be suspended and urging the parties to restore peace and stability in the oil-producing state.
Tinubu reportedly intervened just before his departure for an official trip to Türkiye on January 26, 2026, amid renewed impeachment moves by lawmakers believed to be loyal to Wike, who had accused Governor Fubara of misconduct, including alleged unbudgeted spending.
According to sources familiar with the directive, the president ordered an immediate suspension of all impeachment-related actions against Fubara, warning that continued hostilities could undermine governance and threaten stability in Rivers State — a key political battleground ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a blunt message to both leaders, Tinubu emphasised that Wike, despite his affiliation with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), remains an influential political figure whose experience and status should be respected, and that Governor Fubara must accord him appropriate recognition.
As part of the peace effort, the president reportedly told Fubara to acknowledge Wike as the undisputed political leader in Rivers State, with influence extending across party lines, a directive designed to ease tensions and facilitate cooperation among political actors.
Tinubu also urged Wike and his allies in the Rivers State House of Assembly to refrain from pursuing impeachment proceedings, noting that such actions would deepen political divisions and disrupt governance.
The intervention follows a long history of friction between the two political heavyweights, which previously led to a fragile peace deal brokered by the president in December 2023 and the declaration of a six-month state of emergency in Rivers in March 2025 after earlier reconciliation attempts broke down.
Beyond halting impeachment, Tinubu’s directive reportedly covered upcoming House of Assembly by-elections in the state, with instructions that candidates allied to Wike be recognised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership, highlighting the complex political balancing act at play in Rivers.
The president’s move is seen as an effort to restore governance and calm in the state, where legislative gridlock and political feuds have at times paralysed official functions, drawing concern from various community and political groups calling for an end to hostilities.
Tinubu’s message to the parties underscored the need for cohesion: he reminded them that unresolved disputes would not only hurt development in Rivers but also weaken collective efforts within the ruling party and its allies across the region.
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