Port Harcourt, Nigeria — Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has stated that he did not foresee the political fallout between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, cautioning the governor amid the deepening crisis in Rivers State. Fayose spoke in a Friday interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on January 9, 2026, against the backdrop of ongoing tensions within the state’s political leadership.
Fayose said he was present at Fubara’s inauguration and had advised the governor against falling out with his predecessor. “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 said, reflecting on the breakdown of relations that has contributed to prolonged instability in the state’s governance.
“I was sitting on the high table the day Fubara was sworn in, and we were on the high table in Rivers. And I told Wike that I want to say one or two things to Fubara not to betray you,” Fayose added.
The comments come as political tensions persist in Rivers State despite earlier interventions, including peace efforts reportedly involving President Bola Tinubu. A source close to the Presidency disclosed that the president had recently summoned Wike for talks on the crisis, with discussions reportedly planned outside the country. At the same time, Fubara is said to have travelled abroad to meet with the president in a bid to resolve the standoff.
The political impasse has also seen renewed impeachment proceedings against Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, initiated by lawmakers perceived to be loyal to Wike. During a Rivers State House of Assembly plenary presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, Majority Leader Major Jack formally read a notice alleging gross misconduct against the governor.
The seven allegations cited include demolition of the Assembly complex, extra‑budgetary spending, withholding of funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and alleged refusal to comply with a Supreme Court ruling on financial autonomy for the legislature.
The broader crisis traces back to a breakdown in the relationship between Fubara and Wike shortly after the governor assumed office, which intensified political divisions across the state. Efforts at brokering peace, including a 2023 intervention by President Tinubu that initially resulted in a fragile truce and power‑sharing arrangement, were undermined as hostilities resumed.
In March 2025, Tinubu declared a six‑month state of emergency in Rivers State, citing governance breakdown and insecurity, and appointed a sole administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok‑Ete Ekwe Ibas, to oversee the state.
Fayose reiterated his loyalty to the Peoples Democratic Party while underscoring the need for candid discourse on the party’s challenges. He noted that his support for President Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election was open and unequivocal, clarifying that he is not a member of the All Progressives Congress.
The continuing rift between Fubara and Wike and its political ramifications underscore enduring divisions within Rivers State’s political landscape, with stakeholders monitoring developments and their implications for governance and stability in the oil‑producing state.
