Wike receives Fubara as Rivers 2027 reconciliation deepens

Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Sunday received Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, at his Port Harcourt residence as efforts to consolidate their political reconciliation gathered pace.

The meeting was the first between the two politicians since Fubara announced that he would not seek re-election in the 2027 governorship election.

Wike was accompanied by the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Rivers State, Kingsley Chinda, and Chairman of the Rainbow Coalition reconciliation committee, Magnus Abe.

Fubara attended the meeting with former APC Deputy National Chairman, Sam Jaja.

The meeting came amid renewed efforts to repair the relationship between Wike and Fubara following months of political crisis that divided the state.

Wike had recently declared that his feud with Fubara was over, saying the governor had agreed to return to the political family that backed his emergence as governor in 2023.

The relationship between both men deteriorated shortly after Fubara assumed office, triggering a prolonged political confrontation in Rivers State.

The crisis led to impeachment proceedings against Fubara by lawmakers loyal to Wike and later contributed to President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a six-month state of emergency in the state.

The rival camps subsequently reached a truce, with Fubara joining the APC and aligning with the Wike-backed Rainbow Coalition.

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