President Tinubu to reinstate Fubara, as suspended Rivers Governor agreeson new condition
The truce was reached during a closed-door meeting on Thursday night at the Presidential Villa, where Tinubu hosted Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT); Suspended Governor Fubara; Martin Amaewhule, the suspended speaker of the Rivers assembly; and a handful of lawmakers.
Presidency sources say the deal, part of a broader effort to restore democratic order in Rivers, involves significant concessions.
According to insiders, one of the key terms is that Fubara will be reinstated to complete his four-year tenure but must forgo any plans to seek a second term in 2027 — a move that will limit his clout but to which he agreed.
A source said, as part of the conditions, Wike would be allowed to nominate all the local government chairpersons across the 23 LGAs of the state.
A source in the presidency said this would serve as significant political leverage, restoring grassroots control to the FCT minister.
TheCable understands that Fubara has also agreed to pay all outstanding allowances and entitlements owed to the 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike who were suspended from the state assembly.
In return, the lawmakers will not initiate any impeachment proceedings against him.
The suspended legislators — led by Amaewhule — had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) amid the power tussle but continued to lay claim to their seats.
Their status as lawmakers has been a subject of legal and political debate.
Sources described Thursday night’s meeting as a breakthrough in Tinubu’s push to reconcile Wike and the governor — but at the cost of Fubara giving up significant powers in exchange for political survival.
“The arrangement is clear: no second term, no local government control, and peace will return,” the source said.
“The president made it clear that Rivers cannot afford a prolonged crisis. The deal is about restoring calm, but it comes at a steep cost for Fubara,” another source said.
“Wike is the real winner here. By controlling the local government chairmen, he retains significant influence over the state’s political machinery, which will be crucial for 2027.”
