The All Progressives Congress (APC) and several stakeholders have stepped in to help resolve the political crisis in Rivers State involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
The crisis has led to fresh impeachment moves against the governor and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu.
Sources said efforts are ongoing to find a political solution, with lawmakers and other key players encouraged to work toward peace and stability. Contrary to earlier reports, neither Wike nor Fubara has met with President Bola Tinubu over the issue.
A source said the President would only step in as a last option, since the matter is political and should first be resolved politically.
Meanwhile, two members of the Rivers State House of Assembly—Sylvanus Nwankwo (Omuma Constituency) and Peter Abbey (Degema Constituency), who is also the Minority Leader—have asked their colleagues to stop the impeachment process and seek peace.
At a press conference in Port Harcourt, Nwankwo admitted that the House had already issued an impeachment notice against the governor and his deputy. However, he said the lawmakers had reflected deeply after receiving appeals from elders and leaders within and outside Rivers State.
He urged fellow lawmakers to “temper justice with mercy” and resolve the matter through dialogue rather than impeachment. According to him, many respected leaders have called for restraint, reconciliation, and peace.
Although he acknowledged that the governor and his deputy may have breached parts of the Constitution, Nwankwo stressed that political wisdom and compromise should be used to prevent further tension.
Supporting this position, Abbey said their appeal was aimed at preventing instability in the state. While admitting that constitutional issues existed, he said lawmakers should remember their shared humanity and act with caution.
Abbey revealed that leaders across the country had contacted them, urging the Assembly not to rush into impeachment. He added that peace would only be possible if the governor also played his part by avoiding further constitutional violations.
The appeal comes at a time of rising political tension in Rivers State, with many groups calling for calm, dialogue, and restraint to protect peace and good governance.
In another development, the Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) Reconciliation Committee, Kanu Godwin Agabi (SAN), appealed to Wike, Fubara, and other stakeholders to forgive one another and make sacrifices for peace.
Agabi said the crisis had lasted too long and warned that continued conflict would raise doubts about the leaders’ commitment to the people of Rivers State. He described Rivers State as too important to Nigeria to be ignored.
Using a parable, he warned against unresolved conflict, saying prolonged fights could destroy everyone involved. He expressed confidence that the dispute could be settled peacefully, reminding the parties that they once worked together to achieve political success.
Agabi called for humility, apologies, and forgiveness, stressing that true leadership lies in reconciliation. He praised former Rivers State governor King Alfred Diete-Spiff for his peace efforts and described Wike as courageous and patriotic, urging him to lead the reconciliation process.
He also expressed trust in Governor Fubara and called on the Rivers State House of Assembly to show political maturity by choosing forgiveness over confrontation.
Agabi said President Tinubu had the wisdom to understand the situation clearly but explained that the PANDEF committee was not set up to blame anyone, only to appeal for peace.
Separately, former presidential aide Laolu Akande said Wike deserved sympathy, noting that he was involved in many political battles. Speaking on his online programme, Akande warned that if Wike lost his ministerial position, his political influence could decline. He described Wike’s choice of successor as the biggest challenge of his political career and said the situation offered lessons about inclusive leadership.
In another reaction, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) warned that the impeachment process could threaten the planned resumption of oil production in Ogoni land.
MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke said Nigeria could lose over $30 million daily if political instability stops oil production of about 500,000 barrels per day. He warned that investors would avoid Rivers State if the crisis continues.
Nsuke described the impeachment move as harmful to national interest and capable of embarrassing the country internationally. He urged the Rivers State House of Assembly to stop the impeachment process in the interest of peace, investment, and Nigeria’s image.
