Efforts to consolidate political reconciliation in Rivers State received a boost as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, APC governorship candidate Kingsley Chinda, and their supporters met Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of his political camp in Port Harcourt. The closed-door meeting, which lasted for about four hours, brought together key figures and supporters from both sides in what is being seen as another step towards strengthening the reconciliation process in the state.
The meeting, which began at about 4 pm and lasted until around 8 pm, was held behind closed doors. Neither Wike, Chinda, and their supporters nor Fubara and his team addressed journalists afterwards, leaving the specific issues discussed and decisions reached undisclosed. This engagement represents another attempt to sustain the emerging rapprochement and transform the recent reduction in tensions into a more enduring political understanding.
The development comes amid intensified efforts to rebuild political ties among stakeholders who were previously divided by the crisis that erupted between Fubara and Wike, his predecessor as governor and current FCT minister. The disagreement, which began in late 2023, escalated into a major political confrontation involving the governor and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Wike.
The crisis subsequently reached a point where President Bola Tinubu intervened directly. In March 2025, he declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Fubara, his deputy, and members of the State House of Assembly for six months, appointing Ibok-Ete Ibas as administrator. A major reconciliation meeting brokered by Tinubu in June 2025 subsequently brought Wike, Fubara, and other stakeholders together, with Wike announcing that the parties had agreed to work together and settle their differences.
The reconciliation process has continued through a series of meetings involving political stakeholders and supporters of the former rivals. In August 2026, members of the Rainbow Coalition Reconciliation Committee, led by former Senator Magnus Abe, met Fubara in Port Harcourt and pledged that members of the political family would not be victimised or discriminated against because of their past differences.
Wike also said in September that Fubara had demonstrated sincerity in the reconciliation efforts, indicating that the process was continuing despite the differences that had previously divided the political structure. The latest meeting involving Wike, Chinda, Fubara, and their respective supporters comes amid efforts by the FCT Minister to plead with the Rivers governor and his mass supporters under the Simplified Movement to support Chinda and President Tinubu in the 2027 General elections.
The meeting is significant because it was the first known occasion in the current reconciliation process in which Fubara personally hosted or participated in a meeting involving supporters from the opposing political camp at his residence. This development indicates a further step towards healing the rifts and rebuilding trust among the key stakeholders in Rivers State politics.
Key points
- FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Rivers State APC governorship candidate Kingsley Chinda met Governor Siminalayi Fubara in Port Harcourt.
- The meeting was part of efforts to consolidate political reconciliation in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 General elections.
- The reconciliation process has continued through a series of meetings involving political stakeholders and supporters of the former rivals.
