Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State, and Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have renewed their hostility. The political feud between the two, which many believed had been resolved following President Tinubu’s intervention, persists.
The feud between the two, which stemmed from disagreements over governance and power conflicts, has been reignited and has now worsened with the submission of an impeachment notice by Rivers State lawmakers.
Wike, the former governor of Rivers and current minister of the Federal Capital Territory, accused Governor Fubara of dismissing 10,000 youths during his term. He also accused the current governor of taking credit for projects undertaken by him.
According to some political analysts, Governor Fubara’s move to the All Progressives Congress (APC) damaged the relationship even further. The increasing enmity between Nyesom Wike and Siminalayi Fubara appears unexpected, shocking, and worrying.
President Bola Tinubu met privately with Nyesom Wike and Siminalayi Fubara, and both committed to work together to bring peace to Rivers State.
However, six months later, tensions resurfaced—a renewed hostility. Wike accused Fubara of reneging on their agreement and vowed to make public the details of the deal reached before President Tinubu. Rivers State lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike have initiated the impeachment move against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
There are thirty-two (32) state lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly. 16 lawmakers, including the Speaker of the Rivers State Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, on December 5, 2026, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing divisions with the PDP.
Another six (6) PDP lawmakers defected to APC on December 23, 2025, leaving ten (10) lawmakers in the PDP. Out of the ten (10) lawmakers in the PDP, findings revealed that only three are loyal to Governor Fubara.
The Rivers State Assembly, notably lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike, FCT Minister, announced on Thursday, January 8, 2026, the start of the impeachment proceedings for Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, stated that Governor Siminalayi Fubara would get the notice of allegations within seven days.
KEY ISSUES RAISED IN THE IMPEACHMENT NOTICE?
A copy of the impeachment notice obtained by WITHIN NIGERIA revealed that there are nine (9) key allegations against Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
These allegations are demolition of the Assembly Complex, extra-budgetary spending, withholding funds, refusal to comply with Supreme Court ruling, seizure of salaries and allowances, approaching unauthorized groups for budget approval, reckless and unconstitutional spending, obstruction of the Assembly’s constitutional duties, and conniving with unauthorized persons to occupy government offices without proper screening.
TIMELINE OF WIKE-FUBARA DÉBÂCLE
WITHIN NIGERIA reviews the entire Wike-Fubara débâcle and highlights key events of the political crisis that started in October 2023.
2023 IMPEACHMENT MOVE?
Twenty-four (24) members of the Rivers State House of Assembly in October, 2023 signed a notice alleging Governor Fubara of ‘gross misconduct’, asking the legislative house to commence impeachment proceedings
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the impeachment move was led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule and was reportedly backed by former Governor Nyesom Wike.
The impeachment notice cited Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution, and the governor’s supporters protested the move, leading to tensions and security measures in the state.
The crisis escalated with the alleged firebombing of the Assembly complex, and Fubara’s camp accused Wike of orchestrating the impeachment attempt.
2023 PEACE DEAL?
President Bola Tinubu in December 2023 brokered a peace deal to resolve the political crisis in Rivers State between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the peace deal includes the eight-point agreement which were; withdrawal of court cases, the recognition of the Amaewhule-led leadership and 27 defected members, Fubara’s re-presenting budget, names of resigned commissioners would be resubmitted, no caretaker committee for LG administration and a complete halt of impeachment proceedings.
2024 JANUARY?
Weeks after President Tinubu’s intervention, Ehie withdrew a contempt suit against pro-Wike lawmakers, indicating a possible easing of tensions. The Rivers Assembly also reconfirmed nine pro-Wike commissioners who had resigned from the cabinet in December.
A Federal High Court in Abuja set aside the state’s N800 billion budget signed into law by Governor Fubara in December 2023. The Rivers Assembly stripped Governor Fubara of the power to appoint caretaker committees for local government councils.
MAY 2024
Victor Oko-Jumbo emerged as the speaker of a three-member Rivers Assembly, creating more confusion and deepening the political crisis in the state. Governor Fubara gazetted an executive order moving sittings of the Assembly loyal to him to the Government House.
Governor Fubara vowed to probe the administration of his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. Five more commissioners resigned, citing various reasons.
A State High Court in Port Harcourt nullified the amended Rivers local government law, which granted tenure extension for local government council officials.
JUNE 2024
Governor Siminalayi Fubara directed outgoing council officials to vacate office immediately following the expiration of their tenure. He inaugurated chairpersons of caretaker committees for the 23 local government areas.
A dynamite exploded near Hotel Presidential along Aba Road, Port Harcourt, during a protest in solidarity with Nyesom Wike.
AUGUST 2024
Nyesom Wike vowed never to support Governor Siminalayi Fubara again, citing Fubara’s failure to uphold their agreement. The All Progressives Party (APP) in Rivers State urged Governor Fubara to seek re-election under their platform, claiming the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had lost relevance in the state.
OCTOBER 2024
Governor Siminalayi Fubara visited the RSIEC office and allegedly foiled an attempt by the police to “cart away” materials meant for the local elections. He conducted local elections in the state, where chairmanship candidates of APP won in 22 local councils in Rivers, while Action Alliance won in one.
Police unsealed local government secretariats after four months. He constituted a seven-man judicial panel of enquiry to investigate the cause of post-election violence and make recommendations for the state government.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed the nullification of Rivers’ 2024 budget. The Amaewhule-led Assembly secured a Federal High Court judgment restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria from further releasing the monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee to the Rivers State government until Fubara presents the 2024 appropriation bill to Amaewhule-led Assembly.
March 2025
Governor Siminalayi Fubara was locked out of the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex, with security personnel citing lack of official communication.
The Rivers House of Assembly served a notice of alleged misconduct against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, as a preliminary step for their impeachment.
President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the 27 members of the State House of Assembly for six months.
June 2025
Governor Siminalayi Fubara directed outgoing council officials to vacate office immediately following the expiration of their tenure. Fubara inaugurated chairpersons of caretaker committees for the 23 local government areas.
The Senate approved President Bola Tinubu’s budget transmission for Rivers State, totaling N1.485tn, which is expected to run until August 2026 .
January 2026
The Rivers State House of Assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, citing gross misconduct and refusal to present the 2026 budget.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders intervened, urging calm and dialogue to resolve the crisis. Wike accused Fubara of breaking a deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu, aimed at ending the power struggle in Rivers State.
Fubara re-absorbed cabinet members who had resigned, prioritizing the state’s interests over personal loyalties.