President Bola Tinubu may have brokered peace among the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike; his political protégé and suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara; and the aggrieved members of the state House of Assembly following a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa on Thursday night.

Those in attendance included Wike, Fubara, and the suspended lawmakers led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule.

It will be recalled that on March 18, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months. He subsequently appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd) as the sole administrator of the state.

The drastic action followed a prolonged political crisis between Fubara and Wike, alongside the majority of the state lawmakers. The President cited Fubara’s alleged refusal to obey a Supreme Court order and concerns over security as the basis for the suspension.

The suspension has since drawn widespread criticism, with many stakeholders describing it as undemocratic and calling for the immediate reinstatement of the affected officials.

In efforts to resolve the crisis, Fubara had held multiple meetings with Wike, his political benefactor and a key figure in the opposition to his administration. He also met with President Tinubu on several occasions, both within and outside the country, to seek a resolution to the impasse.

Although the brief statement released by the Presidency on Friday morning did not confirm whether the parties had reached a formal ceasefire, indications suggest that the political crisis may have been resolved.

It is expected that President Tinubu may order the reinstatement of Governor Fubara and the lawmakers in the coming days.