See Conditions Under Which Fubara Will Be Reinstated

By Arthur Maduka

Suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, is set to be reinstated following a high-level political truce brokered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. However, the reinstatement comes with a set of strict conditions aimed at restoring peace and stability in the state after months of political turmoil.

According to sources close to the negotiations, Fubara will be allowed to return to office and complete his current four-year term, but he must abandon any plans to seek re-election in 2027. This condition is said to be a key demand from stakeholders aligned with former governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

As part of the peace deal, Wike will also be given the authority to nominate all local government chairpersons across the 23 LGAs of Rivers State. This ensures that his political structure remains firmly in place throughout the state.

Fubara has further agreed to settle all outstanding allowances and entitlements owed to the 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike, who were suspended from the Rivers State House of Assembly at the height of the crisis. In exchange, the lawmakers have committed not to initiate any impeachment proceedings against the governor.

The conditions are part of a broader reconciliation effort led by President Tinubu, who declared a state of emergency in Rivers State earlier in March, leading to the suspension of the governor, his deputy, and the entire state assembly. The goal, according to the Presidency, was to create a neutral environment for peace talks and prevent further breakdown of law and order.

With the new understanding in place, political observers see this as a fragile but hopeful step toward ending the power tussle that has crippled governance in the oil-rich state for months.