The political reconciliation process in Rivers State has taken another step forward after Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, met with Governor Siminalayi Fubara, APC governorship candidate Kingsley Chinda and supporters of both political camps in Port Harcourt.
The closed-door meeting, which lasted for about four hours, was held at Fubara’s private residence on Tuesday. Wike and Chinda arrived with their supporters at about 4pm, with discussions continuing until around 8pm.
The meeting is seen as a significant development following the prolonged political disagreement between Wike and Fubara, which created deep divisions among political leaders and supporters across the state.
According to reports, the gathering brought together key members of the two camps as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the peace process and build a new working relationship ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, neither Wike, Fubara nor Chinda addressed journalists after the meeting. The participants left without publicly disclosing what was discussed or whether specific agreements were reached.
The meeting comes after several engagements aimed at consolidating the reconciliation between Wike and Fubara.
Fubara had previously declared that he had returned to his political family and endorsed Chinda as his preferred successor in the 2027 Rivers governorship election. Chinda emerged as the APC governorship candidate after Fubara withdrew from the party’s primary, saying his decision was made in the interest of peace and unity in the state.
The latest meeting also follows earlier reconciliation efforts led by Senator Magnus Abe, who heads a committee working to bring supporters of the different camps together.
The relationship between Wike and Fubara deteriorated shortly after Fubara became governor in 2023, resulting in a major political crisis in Rivers State. The dispute later escalated into an impeachment battle involving lawmakers aligned with Wike before the two sides eventually reached a political truce.
With the 2027 elections approaching, the latest engagement could further shape the political alignment in Rivers State. For now, the absence of a public statement means the details of the four-hour discussions remain undisclosed.
The meeting nevertheless provides another indication that both camps are continuing efforts to maintain the political reconciliation and prevent a return to the divisions that previously unsettled the state.