PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria — The recent defection of Governor Siminalayi Fubara from the PDP to the APC has fundamentally altered the political dynamics of Rivers State, effectively “eroding” the leverage previously held by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Thursday, January 8, 2026, the former Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Austin Tam-George, observed that Wike and his allies appear “unsettled” by the Governor’s strategic move to align with the center.
The “Unsettled” Minister?
Tam-George pointed to Wike’s recent intensive tour of local government areas (LGAs) across Rivers State as evidence of a camp struggling to reassert its influence.
“The movement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara to APC in the last 21 days has changed the political calculation… You know, in the past two weeks or so, the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has been going from one local government area to another, threatening the government of Rivers State.”
Fresh Impeachment War: The 2026 Battle Begins
As of today, Friday, January 9, 2026, the rivalry has escalated into a formal constitutional crisis. On Thursday, the Rivers State House of Assembly—led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule—initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.
- The Allegations: The lawmakers have listed seven counts of “gross misconduct,” including extra-budgetary spending and the failure of the Governor to present a 2026 budget to the House.
- The Counter-Argument: The Rivers State chapter of the APC has rejected the impeachment, arguing that the state is currently operating on a budget passed by the National Assembly during the 2025 emergency rule, which remains valid until August 2026.
Why It Matters
Tam-George warned that while the “tit-for-tat” between the two camps continues, it is the state and its development that ultimately suffer. The defection has forced the Wike camp into a defensive position, as Fubara now enjoys the formal title of “APC Leader” in the state—a position Wike has publicly dismissed, insisting that leadership must be “earned at the grassroots.”
