Fubara’s surrender to Wike leaves loyalists in political limbo

Detailed summary

Following the reconciliation between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Nyesom Wike, questions arise about the political fate of the governor’s loyalists. Read More:…

The reconciliation between Siminalayi Fubara and Nyesom Wike has raised questions about the political fate of the governor’s loyalists, their place in Rivers politics and whether Fubara has surrendered his political influence to his former godfather, writes DENNIS NAKU

Since the February 2025 Supreme Court judgment, which nullified the local government elections conducted in Rivers State by the State Independent Electoral Commission under Governor Siminalayi Fubara and recognised Martin Amaewhule as the authentic Speaker of the State House of Assembly, things have gone from sublime to ridiculous for the state chief executive.

Before then, the governor was gaining ground in the political tussle between him and his then estranged political godfather and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

However, following the expiration of the tenure of the local government chairmen who served under Wike, Fubara appointed local government administrators and later conducted fresh local government elections, in which his loyalists emerged as elected chairmen across the 23 local government areas, thus establishing a firm political structure at the grassroots.

However, the governor’s ability to assert himself following his control of the LGAs was cut short by the landmark judgment of the highest court in the land.

Following the ruling, the three lawmakers loyal to the governor became handicapped, although Fubara still had control of the local government areas through the heads of local government administration. This continued until the political crisis in the state degenerated, with the State House of Assembly threatening to impeach the governor.

The impeachment threat hanging over the governor attracted the fury of some militants sympathetic to him, who threatened to blow up oil pipelines. This compelled President Bola Tinubu to declare a six-month state of emergency in the oil-rich state, suspending the governor and the State House of Assembly.

Tinubu subsequently…

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