President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to immediately suspend all impeachment efforts against Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu.
The directive, reported by ARISE News and other sources, follows the Rivers State House of Assembly’s initiation of impeachment proceedings on January 8, 2026, citing alleged gross misconduct. This marks the third such attempt against Fubara since he assumed office in 2023.
The latest move stems from ongoing tensions between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, who accused the governor of violating a peace agreement brokered by Tinubu in June 2024. The rift escalated after earlier interventions, including a state of emergency declared by Tinubu on March 18, 2025, which suspended the governor and imposed emergency rule for six months before being lifted in September 2025.
According to reports, Tinubu issued the order shortly before departing for an official visit to Türkiye on January 26, 2026. He instructed Wike and aligned lawmakers to abandon impeachment plans, warning that continued conflict could destabilize governance in the oil-rich state.
The intervention includes conditions: Governor Fubara must formally recognize Wike as the undisputed political leader of Rivers State, granting him significant influence over party affairs and respecting political seniority. Tinubu emphasized that Wike’s role as an elder statesman in the state’s politics remains essential despite disagreements.
The feud originated soon after Fubara’s inauguration in May 2023, when he sought greater independence from Wike’s influence, leading to divisions in the state assembly and repeated political standoffs.
This latest presidential effort aims to restore stability and enable effective governance in Rivers State amid concerns over potential disruptions to oil production and investor confidence.
