Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has claimed that the impeachment move against Siminalayi Fubara was suspended on the condition that the Rivers State governor would not seek a second term in office.
Wike made the revelation while speaking to journalists on Monday after inspecting ongoing infrastructural projects in Abuja.
According to the former Rivers State governor, he was not surprised by Fubara’s decision to withdraw from the All Progressives Congress governorship primary election ahead of the exercise.
Fubara had announced his withdrawal from the race a day before the primary, saying his decision was based on “conviction and sacrifice” aimed at promoting peace, stability, and unity in Rivers State.
Reacting to the development, Wike stated that the governor should not have obtained the nomination form in the first place because, according to him, there was already an understanding reached during previous political negotiations.
He alleged that the agreement involved dropping the impeachment process against Fubara on the condition that the governor would not pursue re-election for a second term.
The remarks have further highlighted the deep political rift between the two leaders, whose prolonged power struggle has dominated Rivers State politics for months.
The crisis began shortly after Fubara assumed office and gradually escalated into a bitter battle for political control between the governor and his predecessor, Wike, who remains influential in the state’s political structure.
At the peak of the dispute, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Wike initiated impeachment proceedings against the governor, triggering political tension and concerns over instability in the oil-rich state.
The conflict later drew national attention, prompting intervention by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who brokered a peace agreement between both camps in an effort to restore calm.
However, the truce appeared fragile, with Wike later accusing Fubara of violating the terms of the agreement. The FCT minister subsequently vowed to oppose any attempt by the governor to secure a second term in office.
Meanwhile, Wike expressed support for Kingsley Chinda, who emerged winner of the Rivers APC governorship primary election on May 21. He described Chinda as a politician with both legislative and executive experience capable of governing the state effectively.
Political analysts say the latest comments by Wike may intensify political debate ahead of the 2027 elections and further shape the alignment of political forces within Rivers State and the wider South-South region.
Observers also note that the ongoing rivalry continues to reflect broader struggles for influence within the ruling political establishment, with Rivers State remaining one of Nigeria’s most politically strategic and economically significant states.
