The simmering political crisis in Rivers State has taken a dramatic new turn with the revelation of specific details from a peace agreement brokered by President Bola Tinubu, which reportedly prohibits Governor Siminalayi Fubara from seeking re-election in 2027. This disclosure comes as pressure mounts on the governor, with his integrity being publicly questioned by a former federal lawmaker who was present during the crucial negotiations.
Stakeholder Exposes Pact, Questions Governor's Integrity
Former Senator Olaka Nwogu, who participated in a major meeting in 2025, has come forward with damning claims. During an interview on Channels Television's 'Sunday Politics' programme monitored by Legit.ng, Nwogu stated that Governor Fubara has "flouted" all agreements intended to resolve the state's political crisis "at one time or another." He directly challenged the governor's integrity, casting doubt on his commitment to the peace process.
When pressed on whether the agreement included a term that Fubara would not contest the 2027 gubernatorial election, Nwogu confirmed, "Well, that is part of it." He provided a detailed account, stating, "I was in that meeting with the president, and the governor spoke himself. And he said, this is the agreement we have reached." According to Nwogu, the pact covered several contentious issues, including the removal of individuals seen as disruptive to the polity and a clear understanding of the roles to be played by both Governor Fubara and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, to ensure harmony.
Nwogu further cited Fubara's own words to his supporters in church, where the governor allegedly said "his spirit had left" the governorship office and told them they did not know what his "oga" (referring to Wike) had done for him. This, Nwogu argued, was a clear allusion to the governor's acceptance of the terms.
Wike Resumes Attacks, Vows to Correct "Leadership Mistake" in 2027
The public airing of these details coincides with a resumption of open hostilities from FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. The minister launched a fresh attack on Governor Fubara after the governor defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in December 2025. Wike accused Fubara of breaching the peace agreement that was reached before the lifting of the emergency rule in Rivers State, a move that had allowed Fubara to return to office.
In a recent statement, Wike vowed that the "leadership mistake" in Rivers would be "corrected in 2027" and promised to eventually reveal the full details of the peace agreement. He responded dismissively to Fubara's New Year remark, where the governor labelled Wike's comments as "noise." Wike retorted that he was the one who made Fubara governor, despite the latter's lack of popularity among the people, and emphasized that leaders must serve the people's will, not personal interests.
The Tinubu-Brokered Deal and Its Consequences
This controversy traces back to a reported closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa in June 2025. At the height of the political crisis in the oil-rich state, President Tinubu hosted Wike, Fubara, Rivers Assembly Speaker Martin Amaewhule, and several lawmakers. According to presidency sources cited by The Cable in June 2025, a deal was struck to reinstate Fubara and restore democratic order.
The key condition, however, was that Fubara would complete his four-year tenure but would be ineligible to seek a second term in the 2027 election. This term was designed to limit his political influence and was reportedly agreed to by the governor himself. The agreement was part of a broader package that included significant concessions from all parties involved.
The fallout from this broken pact is now fuelling renewed tensions. Barely two months after the suspension of emergency rule, Governor Fubara and the state House of Assembly, led by Speaker Amaewhule, are again at loggerheads. The assembly has condemned the alleged vandalization of property at the Township School in Port Harcourt and other schools, lamenting the decayed infrastructure in public institutions and accusing the executive arm of negligence.
As the 2027 election draws closer, the exposed details of the Wike-Fubara agreement have set the stage for an intense power struggle in Rivers State, with the governor's political future and the state's stability hanging in the balance.
