President Bola Tinubu has intervened in the political crisis rocking Rivers State, brokering a truce that allows Governor Siminalayi Fubara to retain his position-under strict conditions.
At a closed-door meeting held Thursday night at the Presidential Villa, Tinubu met with Fubara, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, suspended State Assembly Speaker Martin Amaewhule, and a few lawmakers.
The gathering led to a deal aimed at ending months of political tension in the state.
One major condition of the agreement is that Fubara will not seek re-election in 2027. In exchange, he will be allowed to complete his current four-year tenure as governor.
As part of the concessions, Wike will nominate all 23 local government chairpersons in the state, a move seen as restoring his influence at the grassroots level.
Fubara has also agreed to pay all outstanding allowances and entitlements owed to the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers who were suspended from the state assembly. In return, they have committed not to initiate impeachment proceedings against him.
The lawmakers had defected to the All Progressives Congress during the height of the crisis but have continued to assert control over their legislative positions, a matter that remains legally contentious.
Insiders described the meeting as a turning point, with the president insisting that the state cannot afford ongoing instability.
The peace deal, however, comes at a significant political cost to Fubara, who has now forfeited both a second-term bid and control of local government appointments.
Observers say Wike remains the dominant political force in the state, with his influence set to play a major role ahead of the 2027 elections.
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