Tension rises in Rivers as Wike-backed lawmakers resume face-off with Fubara
The face-off between the two leaders subsequently worsened in 2024 after the Martins Amaewhule-led members of the state Assembly joined the fight.
SOCIETYWATCH recalls that about 27 lawmakers loyal to the FCT Minister on December 11, 2023 dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the All Progressives Congress, APC.
But the defection did not go down well as Fubara-backed members of the house, on July 6, 2024 declared their seats vacant, escalating the political tension in the state.
The crisis lingered until May 18, 2025, when President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers, suspending Fubara, his deputy and members of the State House of Assembly for a period of six months.
However, on July 27, 2025, Tinubu met with Fubara, Wike and Amaewhule at the State House where he brokered peace between the warriors.
Barely three months after that, a fresh shot of the crisis started brewing in December 1st, 2025 when Amaewhule vehemently criticized Governor Fubara’s administration, accusing the government of neglecting public primary and secondary schools in the state.
In a viral video, Amaewhule could be heard saying that the decay under the government’s watch is unacceptable and embarrassing.
Amaewhule said it was “a sad commentary” that public schools in the oil-rich state have deteriorated to the point where vandals have taken over school premises, pupils learn without teachers, and one teacher is forced to teach two classes simultaneously.
16 lawmakers dump Fubara’s PDP
Amaewhule and 15 other members of the assembly on Friday, December 5, dumped Fubara’s PDP for the ruling All Progressives Congress, signaling another phase of crisis in the state.
The fifteen lawmakers include the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol (Gokana); Major Jack (Akuku-Toru); Linda Stewart (Okrika); Franklin Nwabochi (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni); Azeru Opara (Port Harcourt 3); Smart Adoki (Port Harcourt 2); Enemi George (Asari-Toru 2); and Solomon Wami (Port Harcourt 1).
Others are Aforji (Eleme); Tekena Wellington (Asari-Toru 1); Looloo Opuende (Akuku-Toru 2); Peter Abbey (Degema); Arnold Dennis (Ogu/Bolo); Chimezie Nwankwo (Etche); and Ofiks Kabang (Andoni).
Assembly questions Fubara’s delay in presenting commissioners
