Barely three months after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brokered a peace deal between Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, political tensions in the state have reignited.
The Legalobserver gathered that lawmakers loyal to Wike, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, are preparing for a fresh confrontation with the governor, signaling a potential return to the long-running power struggle that has destabilized the state since late 2023.
The dispute between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, erupted in 2023 over control of the state’s political structure. The conflict intensified in 2024 after the Amaewhule-led Assembly members openly joined the battle against the governor.
On December 11, 2023, 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC. In July 2024, pro-Fubara lawmakers declared their seats vacant, heightening the tension.
The standoff reached a peak in May 2025 when President Tinubu declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending the governor, his deputy, and the entire Assembly to restore order.
Tinubu reconciled both factions on July 27, 2025, but the truce now appears to be collapsing.
Tensions resurfaced on December 1, 2025, when Speaker Martins Amaewhule sharply criticized Governor Fubara’s administration.
In a viral video, the Speaker condemned the state of public schools, describing the neglect as “unacceptable” and “a sad commentary.”
He alleged that vandals had taken over school premises and that some teachers were forced to handle two classes at the same time.
On December 5, 2025, Amaewhule and 15 other lawmakers officially dumped the PDP for the APC, further deepening the political divide.
Those who defected 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), and others across multiple constituencies.
Assembly Queries Delay in Submitting Commissioners
Another flashpoint emerged after the Assembly accused Governor Fubara of failing to submit a list of commissioner-nominees despite earlier requests.
The delay followed Fubara’s dismissal of commissioners appointed during the height of the crisis, citing a Supreme Court ruling that recognized only the Amaewhule-led Assembly.
Leader Sampson, Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State, warned that the renewed crisis threatens the welfare of citizens.
“This is not what the state needs now,” he said. “After resolving the earlier issues, we expected cooperation, but what we are seeing is political selfishness.”
He argued that the latest conflict was predictable, adding that Amaewhule’s criticisms were part of a pre-planned scheme.
PDP chieftain Austin Okai also weighed in, claiming Fubara has been politically isolated.
“Despite reconciliation, Wike’s train moved to the APC without carrying him along,” Okai said. “He is now lonely, and even some of his supporters have abandoned him.”
