Budget dispute sparks fresh political war between Wike, Fubara in Rivers

Fresh hostilities between Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State, have been traced to a disagreement over a proposed supplementary budget, deepening an already fragile political relationship between the two former allies.

Sources familiar with the development said the rift resurfaced after associates loyal to Wike pushed for a supplementary appropriation bill through members of the Rivers State House of Assembly aligned with him.

Governor Fubara, however, rejected the proposal, insisting that the existing budget approved during the period of emergency rule was sufficient to run the state for the remainder of 2025.

In June, the National Assembly approved a N1.48 trillion appropriation for Rivers State following the declaration of emergency rule.

President Bola Tinubu had proposed the 2025 budget in May after appointing Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) as the state administrator, following the suspension of Fubara amid the political crisis.

Fubara had publicly stated on December 17 that the state government account held over N300 billion at the time of his suspension, but that he met approximately N600 billion upon his reinstatement, reinforcing his position that no supplementary budget was required.

‘War Declaration’ Meeting in Port Harcourt

Insiders said Fubara’s rejection of the supplementary budget triggered a decisive response from Wike.

The FCT minister reportedly convened a meeting of key political allies, including members of the state assembly, at the residence of Ferdinand Anabraba, a prominent Rivers political elder, in Port Harcourt.

Multiple sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said Wike used the meeting to signal an all-out political confrontation with the governor.

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“Wike told them plainly that he was declaring fresh war on Fubara,” one source who attended the meeting disclosed.

Earlier in December, the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, had accused Fubara of engaging in unapproved spending and awarding contracts to associates without legislative approval—allegations that further strained relations between the executive and the legislature.

APC Alignment and the Tinubu Factor

As tensions escalated, sources said Fubara began aligning politically with the All Progressives Congress (APC), anticipating an imminent showdown with Wike. This move, insiders revealed, was endorsed by President Tinubu and welcomed by APC governors, some of whom reportedly have unresolved tensions with Wike.

“The thinking was that bringing Fubara fully into the APC would weaken Wike’s leverage,” a source familiar with the discussions said.

Fubara formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC on December 9. Although he was initially made to pledge that he would not seek a second term as part of political concessions, sources now say the governor appears poised to pursue re-election under the APC platform.

Failed Peace Terms and Renewed Hostilities

Further details indicate that a fragile peace arrangement brokered before the lifting of emergency rule collapsed over unmet demands allegedly made by Wike.

According to sources, one of the conditions included the reinstatement of Sergeant Awuse, the traditional ruler of the Emohua Kingdom and a known Wike ally, as chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers.

Fubara had removed Awuse from the position in June 2024 and replaced him with Chike Worlu Wodo. Wike was also said to have demanded the appointment of specific commissioners—requests that Fubara declined to implement.

“Fubara felt those conditions would completely undermine his authority as governor. That was the final straw,” a source said.

The failure to meet these demands, insiders added, effectively collapsed the peace agreement and reopened hostilities between the two camps. Following Fubara’s defection to the APC, Wike began launching open political attacks on the governor.

Wike’s 2027 Warning

On Tuesday, Wike intensified his rhetoric, declaring that what he described as a “leadership mistake” in Rivers State would be corrected in 2027. He also promised to publicly disclose details of the peace agreement that led to Fubara’s reinstatement.

In a veiled reference to the governor, the FCT minister said political leaders must serve the will of the people rather than pursue personal ambitions.

“We will not make the same mistake again at the state level in 2027, but we will talk about it later when the time comes,” Wike said.