By Joe Udo
PORT HARCOURT (CONVERSEER) – The political crisis in Rivers State remains unresolved as the emergency rule imposed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approaches its sixth month, with growing indications it may be extended beyond its 18th September expiry date.
At the heart of the lingering impasse is an escalating power struggle between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his longtime ally, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. While both leaders have sought to downplay their differences, insiders say their cold war has become a decisive factor in Rivers’ prolonged instability.
Sources revealed that the rift deepened after Akpabio supported the federal declaration of emergency rule, contrary to Wike’s preference for a political solution—specifically, the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his estranged protégé, according to Southern Examiner.
The appointment of retired Naval Chief Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas as sole administrator of Rivers State, reportedly backed by Akpabio, further widened the political divide.
A Federal Takeover of Rivers
President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers on 18 March 2025 following a protracted power struggle between Wike and Governor Fubara. The measure suspended all democratic institutions in the state, handing full executive and legislative powers to Vice Admiral Ibas.
Since his appointment, Ibas has taken sweeping decisions including dissolving the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), appointing officials to key state boards, and presenting a controversial N1.486 trillion 2025 budget directly to the National Assembly. Despite concerns over allocations for gunboat acquisitions and surveillance infrastructure, the budget passed swiftly.
In moves seen as consolidating control, Ibas appointed 11 new permanent secretaries and launched a sweeping audit of the state’s civil service and pension system. The appointment of Dr Michael Odey, a retired INEC official from Cross River State, as RSIEC chairman particularly angered Wike and was widely perceived as a strategic manoeuvre by Akpabio to strengthen influence in the South-South.
Akpabio’s Rising Influence, Wike’s Waning Grip
Ironically, Akpabio had initially supported Wike in his battle for control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) machinery in Rivers against Governor Fubara. However, his stance has shifted sharply. After Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom defected to the APC, Akpabio recognised him as the party leader, remarking: “There can’t be two governors in a state.”
Analysts believe Akpabio now wields greater influence over President Tinubu on Rivers affairs than Wike, with the Senate President’s backing seen as pivotal to Ibas’ sweeping powers.
Wike’s calls for an end to the emergency rule, arguing that Fubara has met all presidential conditions, have reportedly been dismissed in Abuja. One insider described the appeal as “like water off a duck’s back.”
A Contest for Niger Delta Supremacy
The once-close alliance between Akpabio and Wike has evolved into a battle for political supremacy in the Niger Delta, with Rivers’ vast oil and gas resources believed to be a key factor driving the standoff.
Despite growing calls from civil society groups for transparency and the restoration of democratic governance, the federal administration has yet to indicate whether the emergency rule will be lifted or extended.
As Rivers residents look ahead to President Tinubu’s Independence Day address on 1 October, hopes for an end to the federal takeover remain faint. Observers warn that without a political compromise, the state risks sliding further into a federally managed political limbo.
