Rivers in Turmoil: Wike-Backed Lawmakers Resume Face-Off with Fubara

The political players in Rivers State are preparing for another crisis just three months after Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and his political son, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, reached a peace agreement.

There will be another confrontation between the governor and the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who support the FCT Minister and are led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule.

Remember that a few months after the governor took office, in late 2023, a fierce struggle between Fubara and Wike over control of the state’s political system gave rise to a political dispute.

The conflict between the two leaders then got worse in 2024 when members of the state Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule entered the fray.

On December 11, 2023, around 27 MPs who supported the FCT Minister switched from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, the defection did not go over well because Fubara-backed members of the parliament declared their seats empty on July 6, 2024, which increased the state’s political unrest.

The situation persisted until President Bola Tinubu proclaimed a state of emergency in Rivers on May 18, 2025, and suspended Fubara, his deputy, and State House of Assembly members for six months.

However, Tinubu mediated a settlement between the warriors during a meeting with Fubara, Wike, and Amaewhule at the State House on July 27, 2025.

Just three months later, on December 1st, 2025, Amaewhule harshly denounced Governor Fubara’s administration, accusing it of ignoring the state’s public primary and secondary schools. This marked the beginning of a new phase of the crisis.

Amaewhule was heard saying in a widely shared video that the deterioration under government control is shameful and intolerable.

According to Amaewhule, it is “a sad commentary” that public schools in the oil-rich state have gotten so bad that students are learning without teachers, one teacher is required to teach two classes at once, and vandals have taken over the school grounds.

16 lawmakers reject the PDP of Fubara

On Friday, December 5, Amaewhule and fifteen other assembly members abandoned Fubara’s PDP in favor of the ruling All Progressives Congress, indicating the beginning of yet another crisis in the state.

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), and Solomon Wami (Port Harcourt 1) are among the fifteen lawmakers.

Aforji (Eleme), Tekena Wellington (Asari-Toru 1), Looloo Opuende (Akuku-Toru 2), Arnold Dennis (Ogu/Bolo), Peter Abbey (Degema), Chimezie Nwankwo (Etche), and Ofiks Kabang (Andoni) are additional.

Questions about assembly Fubara’s tardiness in introducing commissioners

On Friday, the assembly confronted the governor for postponing the submission of a list of commissioner-nominees for screening, which was another indication of a new crisis.

Recall that the Assembly asked the governor to send a list of commissioner-nominees to guarantee efficient state government during the House’s first meeting after the emergency rule was suspended in September 2025.

Fubara had previously fired every commissioner chosen during the height of the political crisis because, according to the Supreme Court’s verdict, they had not been vetted by the constitutionally recognized Assembly.

Another confrontation has resulted from the governor’s inability to send the house a new list of commissioner-nominees.

ADC Chairman: “Rivers people don’t need this right now.”

Leader Sampson, the chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) chapter in Rivers State, stated that the state does not currently require another crises.

In an interview, Sampson cautioned the assembly members and all stakeholders involved in the impending crisis against endangering the lives of Rivers people for personal gain.

“This is obviously not what the state needs right now,” he declared. We anticipated that the legislative branch of government would work with the executive branch to advance the state after the previous problems were resolved and the state of emergency was ended.

But what we observe is what we had anticipated. We were aware that their achievement of peace at that time was motivated by self-interest.

“We are unable to even call that one peace agreement. For the benefit of certain individuals, terms were agreed upon.

We knew something was going to happen as soon as Amaewhule chastised the governor. They were merely searching for a way to nail the governor when they discussed schools. What they wanted to do was previously planned.

“Everyone has the right to engage in politics, but not at the expense of the Rivers people.”

Austin Okai: They’ve abandoned Fubara.

In response, Austin Okai, a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), questioned why the governor was excluded from the PDP in spite of the reconciliation.

Some of the governor’s followers have also deserted him, according to Okai, who accused Fubara of returning “to his vomit.”

“Wike’s train moved to the APC without carrying him along despite reconciliation,” he stated.

“Those who supported him have also deserted him since he returned to his own vomit, leaving him lonely.”