There is a renewed sense of optimism that the protracted political feud rocking Rivers State may be nearing a resolution. This follows indications that the key figures in the crisis, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, are showing a willingness to reconcile.
Agabi Peace Committee Holds Crucial Meetings
The seven-man peace and reconciliation committee established by the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF), led by Kanu Agabi (SAN), has been actively engaging both camps. According to sources, the committee, known as the Agabi Peace Committee, first met with Wike in Abuja on Thursday, January 15, 2026.
This was followed by a three-hour interface with Governor Fubara in Port Harcourt on Friday, January 16. The committee further extended its consultations by meeting with elders and leaders from both the Wike and Fubara factions on Saturday, January 17, also in the Rivers State capital.
Positive Signals Emerge from Consultations
A source familiar with the proceedings described the meetings as "very fruitful" and a source of encouragement. The source noted that while many public statements had been made previously, the outcome of the committee's engagements has fostered a "real renewed hope."
The committee was inaugurated with a mandate to reconcile the warring parties and submit its report within two weeks. Its recent meeting with state elders was specifically aimed at proffering a workable solution to end the political deadlock, which stemmed from impeachment threats against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu.
The source emphasised that the very fact that both Wike and Fubara agreed to meet with the committee is a positive sign. "If Wike and Fubara had refused to meet with the committee, for instance, then there would have been a genuine reason to be afraid that the effort would not yield a positive result," the source stated, adding that "things are going on very well."
Background of the Rivers Political Impasse
The political crisis in Rivers State has been characterised by deep divisions and defections. Legit.ng had earlier reported that 16 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The Speaker of the Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, who announced the defection during plenary, also stated his intention to join his colleagues in leaving the PDP.
This move significantly heightened tensions and set the stage for the impeachment threats against the governor. The intervention by the PANDEF-led Agabi Committee is now seen as a critical step towards de-escalation and finding a lasting political solution for the oil-rich state.
As the committee works against its two-week deadline, residents and political observers in Rivers State and across Nigeria are hopeful that the dialogue will translate into tangible peace and stability for the state's governance.
