Tinubu Reportedly Strikes Deal to Reinstate Fubara — With One Bold Condition

Fresh details have emerged from Thursday’s high-stakes meeting at the Presidential Villa, where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reportedly brokered a political truce that could reshape the 2027 power map in Rivers State. Sources close to the negotiation told TheCable that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s reinstatement hinges on a major concession—he must not seek a second term.

President Tinubu’s intervention follows months of political turbulence that saw Fubara suspended, a state of emergency declared on March 18, and the Governor’s authority systematically stripped. The latest deal reportedly allows him to complete his current term but removes any ambition to return in 2027, significantly curbing his future political leverage.

The closed-door peace parley, which included FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, House Speaker Martin Amaewhule, and other key players, also saw the re-emergence of Wike’s grip on Rivers politics. According to insider accounts, Wike will be allowed to nominate all 23 local government chairpersons in the state, restoring his dominance at the grassroots level.

The deal is believed to be Tinubu’s strategic move to prevent Rivers from becoming a political battlefield ahead of the 2027 elections. Observers note that limiting Fubara’s future ambitions neutralizes one of Wike’s most potent rivals in the state and secures peace—for now.

Sources inside the Villa said Tinubu made it clear during the meeting that Nigeria “cannot afford another crisis-laden state,” pointing to the delicate economic and security climate across the country. By offering Fubara a path back to office while placating Wike with local government control, the President appears to have threaded a tight political needle.

Critics argue, however, that this form of power-brokering—where elected mandates are negotiated behind closed doors—undermines democracy and sets a dangerous precedent. They warn that it could erode voter trust and embolden political godfatherism at the expense of constitutional process.

While none of the involved parties have officially confirmed the full terms, the silence from both Fubara and Wike since the meeting has only fueled speculation that a secretive yet seismic deal has indeed been struck under the watchful eye of Aso Rock.