Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has said he did not anticipate the political rift between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, describing the fallout as unforeseen amid a prolonged governance crisis in the oil‑rich state. Fayose’s comments came in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, underscoring widening political instability affecting governance and legislative relations in Rivers State.
Fayose said he was present at Governor Fubara’s inauguration and advised against a breach in the relationship between the governor and his predecessor, Wike, who remains an influential figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and national politics. “Let me quickly say this. I never knew this thing would ever happen between Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike,” he stated.
His remarks come against the backdrop of persistent political tension in Rivers State that has involved high‑level federal engagement and legislative actions aimed at resolving the crisis. A source close to the presidency disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has summoned Wike for talks abroad as part of ongoing efforts to address the situation, while Fubara reportedly travelled to France to confer with the President on the matter.
The Rivers State House of Assembly aligned chiefly with Wike’s political bloc, recently initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, on allegations including demolition of the Assembly complex, extra‑budgetary expenditures, and refusal to comply with Supreme Court directives on legislative financial autonomy.
The political crisis has endured since early in Fubara’s tenure, with competing factions in the House of Assembly, legal challenges, and previous presidential interventions. In March 2025, President Tinubu declared an emergency in Rivers State citing breakdowns in governance and security, suspending Fubara’s executive powers and appointing Vice Admiral Ibok‑Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.) as sole administrator to oversee state affairs.
Fayose also framed his comments within a broader perspective on party loyalty and candid critique. He said his allegiance to the PDP did not preclude frank commentary on internal challenges, stressing that “Everybody stands where they will be able to say the truth to Nigerians. I am not contesting elections, and I have not asked anybody for favours,” and reiterated his public support for President Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election.
The ongoing political impasse in Rivers State continues to attract national attention, with implications for governance stability, legislative autonomy, and party dynamics ahead of the 2027 general elections. Observers note that the crisis, which began shortly after Fubara assumed office, reflects deeper fractures within political alliances that may shape future electoral contests and federal‑state relations.
Further developments are anticipated as federal mediation efforts continue, and legislative processes unfold in Port Harcourt.
