BREAKING: New twist in Rivers political crisis as Tinubu, Fubara hold meeting in London

President Bola Tinubu has held a private meeting in London with the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, amid the lingering political crisis in the state.

The meeting, which was confirmed by The Africa Report, reportedly took place at the request of Fubara, who has been out of office since President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025.

At the time of this report, details of their discussions remain undisclosed, as presidential aides approached by Newsmen confirmed they were not part of the President’s recent trip. However, officials described it as their first direct meeting since the political impasse escalated.

President Tinubu had, in a nationwide broadcast on March 18, cited months of political instability and threats to national security as reasons for invoking Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution.

This move saw Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, removed from office, with Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas appointed as sole administrator of the state.

The declaration triggered swift reactions, with governors from seven PDP-controlled states filing a lawsuit at the Supreme Court, challenging the constitutionality of the emergency proclamation and demanding a return to democratic governance in the oil-rich state.

According to sources, Tinubu and Fubara’s London meeting centered on possible pathways to restoring a functional government in Rivers State, including discussions about the governor’s potential reinstatement before the conclusion of his six-month suspension.

Interestingly, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Fubara’s estranged political mentor, Nyesom Wike, was absent from the meeting. Reports indicate he remains uneasy about negotiations involving Fubara and the presidency without his participation.

Meanwhile, sources within the presidency hint that Tinubu is expected to hold a broader meeting involving Fubara, Wike, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly in the coming days to forge a lasting solution to the political crisis threatening governance and stability in the state.