In a fiery address during a political gathering in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State on January 6, 2026, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, revisited the protracted political crisis in the state, accusing certain political actors of misleading Governor Siminalayi Fubara into reneging on a peace agreement brokered by President Bola Tinubu. Wike emphasized that the controversial deal was not a private arrangement but a formal accord endorsed by high-profile national figures, aimed at restoring stability to Rivers State.
Speaking to a crowd of supporters and party loyalists, Wike recounted the events surrounding the initial peace initiative. He disclosed that the agreement was signed in the presence of President Tinubu, with key witnesses including the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili. "There was a time we met with Mr President and everyone signed the agreement. Even the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, signed. Peter Odili also signed," Wike stated, underscoring the official nature of the pact and its intent to foster political harmony.
According to Wike, the understanding reached during the meeting was accepted by all parties at the time. However, the deal collapsed shortly after Governor Fubara returned to Rivers State, where he allegedly received contrary advice from unnamed political figures. Wike claimed these actors persuaded Fubara that the agreement was "purely political" and should not be honored, leading to prolonged tensions that eventually spilled into the courts. "But after they returned home, some people began to mislead the young man, telling him it was political and that he should not follow through. That was how the crisis dragged on and ended up in court, where we won clearly," he said.
The FCT minister noted that despite securing legal victories, the matter did not conclude there, as continued discord threatened governance in the oil-rich state. President Tinubu intervened once more to avert further escalation, prompting appeals from several governors, ministers, and senior lawyers who urged Wike to consider a renewed peace effort. Initially reluctant due to the breach of the previous accord, Wike said he eventually agreed after assurances that the new process would yield different results. Multiple meetings with Fubara culminated in another agreement, which was again presented before the President, with commitments from all sides to implement it faithfully.
Wike's remarks come amid heightened tensions in Rivers State, where the rift between him and his successor has polarized the political landscape, affecting legislative functions, local government administration, and party alignments. The crisis, which intensified in late 2023, has seen defections, impeachments attempts, and legal battles, with both camps accusing each other of undermining democratic institutions.
Shifting focus during his address, Wike launched a scathing critique of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the platform on which he and Fubara rose to prominence. He highlighted the party's loss of dominance in Rivers State during the 2023 general elections, attributing significant gains by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to his own political influence and support for President Tinubu. Wike claimed that the PDP performed abysmally in the presidential poll within the state, failing to garner even 10 percent of the total votes cast—a point he has made in previous statements to underscore the opposition party's weakened position.
This assertion aligns with official election results from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), where APC candidate Bola Tinubu secured victory in Rivers State, marking a rare breach of PDP's traditional stronghold in the South-South region. Wike positioned his role in delivering the state for Tinubu as a pivotal factor, contrasting it with the PDP's poor showing under its national leadership at the time.
The Ogu-Bolo event was part of Wike's series of "thank you" visits to local government areas, where he also expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for recent federal appointments of Rivers indigenes to key positions in petroleum regulatory bodies. These gestures, Wike argued, demonstrate unprecedented federal support for the state under the current administration.
Wike's public statements have reignited debates over the Rivers crisis, with implications for the 2027 elections. While he reaffirmed his "total" support for President Tinubu and vowed to deliver Rivers State for the APC, observers note escalating intra-party frictions within the ruling party, including warnings from national APC figures to Wike over his dominance in state affairs.
Governor Fubara has yet to respond directly to Wike's latest accusations, but previous exchanges between the duo have been marked by sharp rhetoric, with Fubara emphasizing his commitment to good governance independent of political godfatherism. The peace deals referenced by Wike stem from interventions in 2023 and subsequent attempts, which have faced criticism for perceived imbalances favoring Wike's allies in the state House of Assembly.
As Rivers State navigates these dynamics, the involvement of President Tinubu highlights the national stakes, given the state's economic importance as a major oil producer. Analysts suggest that sustained mediation may be required to prevent further instability, particularly with off-cycle local government elections and broader political realignments on the horizon.
Wike's outspoken defense of the agreements and criticism of the PDP underscore his enduring influence in Rivers politics, even as he serves in a federal capacity. His narrative frames the crisis as one precipitated by external misinformation rather than inherent flaws in the pacts, while bolstering his credentials within the APC ahead of future contests.
This development continues to shape Nigeria's political discourse, illustrating the complex interplay of personal loyalties, party affiliations, and power struggles in one of the country's most strategic states.
