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After bitter political feud: Wike, Fubara hold first meeting

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Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, on Sunday hosted Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, at his residence in Port Harcourt, in their first reported meeting since Fubara withdrew from the 2027 governorship race.

The meeting comes after long feud between the former political allies and efforts to consolidate their reconciliation after a prolonged dispute that plunged Rivers politics into crisis.

Wike was joined at the meeting by Kingsley Chinda, the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Rivers, and Magnus Abe, chairman of the Rainbow Coalition reconciliation committee. Former APC deputy national chairman, Sam Jaja, accompanied Fubara.

The relationship between Wike and Fubara deteriorated shortly after the governor assumed office in 2023, triggering a political crisis that polarised the state.

The dispute escalated into impeachment proceedings against Fubara by lawmakers loyal to Wike and later contributed to President Bola Tinubu declaring a six-month state of emergency in Rivers.

The two camps eventually reached a truce, with Fubara joining the APC and aligning with the Rainbow Coalition backed by Wike.

Following Wike’s declaration that the dispute had ended, a reconciliation committee headed by Abe was constituted to engage Fubara and his supporters.

Fubara subsequently declared support for the Rainbow Coalition and endorsed Chinda as his preferred successor in the 2027 governorship election. He also backed Tinubu for re-election and urged his supporters to support the President and candidates of the coalition.

Fubara had initially been screened alongside Chinda for the APC governorship primary but later withdrew from the contest, citing the interest of peace and unity in Rivers state. Chinda, who became the sole aspirant after Fubara’s withdrawal, subsequently emerged as the APC governorship candidate.