Rivers State’s political players are preparing for another crisis just three months after Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and his political son, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, reached a peace agreement.
There will be another confrontation between the governor and the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, who are loyal to the FCT Minister.
Recall that a few months after the governor took office, in late 2023, a fierce struggle between Fubara and Wike over control of the state’s political system gave rise to a political dispute.
After the Martins Amaewhule-led members of the state Assembly entered the conflict in 2024, the conflict between the two leaders got harsher.
Recall that on December 11, 2023, roughly 27 MPs who supported the FCT Minister switched from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the defection did not go down well, as members of the house who supported Fubara declared their seats empty on July 6, 2024, raising political tensions in the state.
President Bola Tinubu suspended Fubara, his deputy, and members of the State House of Assembly for six months after declaring a state of emergency in Rivers on May 18, 2025.
Nonetheless, Tinubu mediated a settlement between the warriors during a meeting with Fubara, Wike, and Amaewhule at the State House on July 27, 2025.
Just three months later, on December 1st, 2025, Amaewhule harshly denounced Governor Fubara’s administration, accusing it of ignoring the state’s public primary and secondary schools, sparking a new round of the crisis.
Amaewhule was heard stating in a widely shared video that the deterioration under the government’s supervision is shameful and intolerable.
According to Amaewhule, it is “a sad commentary” that public schools in the oil-rich state have gotten so bad that students are learning without teachers, one teacher is required to teach two courses at once, and vandals have taken over school property.
16 legislators reject Fubara’s PDP
On Friday, December 5, Amaewhule and fifteen other assembly members abandoned Fubara’s PDP in favor of the ruling All Progressives Congress, indicating the start of yet another crisis in the state.
Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol (Gokana), Major Jack (Akuku-Toru), Linda Stewart (Okrika), Franklin Nwabochi (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni), Azeru Opara (Port Harcourt 3), Enemi George (Asari-Toru 2), Smart Adoki (Port Harcourt 2), and Solomon Wami (Port Harcourt 1) are among the fifteen lawmakers.
Aforji (Eleme), Tekena Wellington (Asari-Toru 1), Looloo Opuende (Akuku-Toru 2), Arnold Dennis (Ogu/Bolo), Peter Abbey (Degema), Chimezie Nwankwo (Etche), and Ofiks Kabang (Andoni) are among the others.
Assembly inquiries Fubara’s tardiness in delivering commissioners
The assembly’s criticism of the governor on Friday for postponing the submission of a list of commissioner nominations for screening was another indication of a new crisis.
Recall that the Assembly asked the governor to provide a list of commissioner-nominees to guarantee efficient state governance during the House’s first meeting after the emergency rule was suspended in September 2025.
All commissioners appointed during the height of the political crisis had previously been dismissed by Fubara because, according to the Supreme Court’s ruling, they had not been vetted by the constitutionally recognized Assembly.
Another confrontation has resulted from the governor’s inability to provide the house with a new list of commissioner-nominees.
ADC Chairman: This is not what the Rivers people need right now.
According to Leader Sampson, the chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) chapter in Rivers State, the state does not currently require another crises.
In an interview, Sampson cautioned the assembly members and all stakeholders involved in the impending crisis not to put the lives of Rivers people in danger for personal gain.
“This is clearly not what the state needs right now,” he declared. We anticipated that the legislative branch of government would work with the executive branch to advance the state after the state of emergency was ended and the previous problems were resolved.
But what we see is what we anticipated beforehand. We were aware that their pursuit of peace at the time was motivated by self-interest.
“That one peace agreement cannot even be called. For the benefit of certain individuals, terms were negotiated.
We sensed something was going on as soon as Amaewhule chastised the governor. They were merely searching for something to pin the governor with when they discussed schools. What they intended to do was already planned.
“Everyone can engage in political activity, but not at the expense of the Rivers people.”
Fubara has been abandoned by them. Austin Okai
In response, Austin Okai, a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), questioned why the governor was left out of the party despite the reconciliation.
Some of the governor’s followers have also deserted him, according to Okai, who accused Fubara of going “back to his vomit.”
“Wike’s train moved to the APC without carrying him along, despite reconciliation,” he stated.
“Those who stood with him have also deserted him since he returned to his own vomit, leaving him lonely.”
