There are fresh indications that President Bola Tinubu has stepped in once more to address the lingering political crisis between Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as tensions in the state continue to escalate.

Highly placed sources close to the Presidency revealed that Tinubu has summoned Wike for a crucial meeting over the deepening Rivers crisis. According to one of the sources, the meeting is expected to take place outside Nigeria, signalling the seriousness with which the President views the renewed face-off between the two political heavyweights.

Investigations further showed that Governor Fubara also travelled out of the country on Thursday aboard a private jet, with plans to meet President Tinubu in France. The development suggests an urgent behind-the-scenes effort by the President to prevent the political situation in Rivers State from spiralling further out of control.

The renewed presidential intervention comes against the backdrop of a fresh impeachment process initiated against Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly believed to be loyal to Wike. The impeachment move has heightened political tension in the oil-rich state, raising fears of instability similar to the crisis that previously led to emergency rule.

During plenary on Thursday, presided over by the Speaker of the Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, formally read out a notice of allegations of gross misconduct against the governor. The lawmakers listed seven alleged infractions, including the demolition of the Assembly complex, extra-budgetary spending, withholding of funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and refusal to comply with a Supreme Court ruling affirming the financial autonomy of the legislature.

In a similar vein, the deputy governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, was accused of reckless and unconstitutional spending of public funds, obstructing the House from carrying out its constitutional duties, and allegedly conniving to allow unauthorised persons to occupy government offices without proper screening by the Assembly.

Speaker Amaewhule said the impeachment notice would be formally served on Governor Fubara within seven days, after which the House adjourned plenary until January 15. He defended the impeachment process, describing it as lawful and in the best interest of Rivers State. According to him, the governor’s alleged refusal to present the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the Assembly amounted to a deliberate attempt to undermine the powers of the legislature.

The current allegations mirror earlier charges brought against Fubara and his deputy before President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State in March 2025, a move that resulted in their six-month suspension from office. At the time, Tinubu personally intervened and mediated between the feuding parties, leading to a temporary truce between Fubara and Wike.

However, barely three months after the emergency rule was lifted, cracks began to reappear in the fragile peace, with both camps resuming verbal and political hostilities. The latest impeachment move has now pushed the crisis to a critical point, prompting Tinubu’s renewed intervention.

Political observers say the President’s latest involvement underscores the strategic importance of Rivers State and the need to avert a repeat of the prolonged political instability that previously paralysed governance in the state. Whether this fresh round of mediation will succeed in restoring lasting peace remains to be seen, as tensions continue to simmer amid the impeachment proceedings.