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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Sunday hosted Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, at his residence in Port Harcourt, in another significant step towards consolidating the reconciliation between the two former political allies.
The meeting marked the first known encounter between Wike and Fubara since the governor announced that he would not seek re-election in the 2027 governorship election.
Wike was accompanied to the meeting by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State, Kingsley Chinda, and the Chairman of the Rainbow Coalition Reconciliation Committee, Magnus Abe.
Fubara, meanwhile, attended the meeting with former APC Deputy National Chairman, Sam Jaja.
The development comes amid renewed efforts to permanently resolve the political differences between Wike and Fubara, whose fallout plunged Rivers State into a prolonged political crisis and sharply divided the state’s political class.
Wike had recently declared that the political dispute between him and Fubara was over, saying the governor had agreed to return to the political family that supported his emergence as governor in 2023.
The relationship between the two men deteriorated shortly after Fubara assumed office, triggering a protracted political struggle involving the executive and the state House of Assembly.
The crisis escalated to the point of impeachment proceedings against Fubara by lawmakers perceived to be loyal to Wike. It also formed part of the circumstances preceding President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State.
The two camps subsequently reached a political truce, with Fubara joining the APC and aligning with the Wike-backed Rainbow Coalition.
Following Wike’s declaration that the feud had ended, a reconciliation committee led by Abe was established to engage Fubara and his supporters and facilitate further rapprochement among the contending political blocs.
Fubara has since expressed support for the Rainbow Coalition and endorsed Chinda as his preferred successor ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The latest meeting is expected to further reinforce the emerging political alliance as preparations intensify for the 2027 elections.
