Politics
Rivers Political Turmoil: Fragile Peace Returns As Tinubu, PDP Govs Forum Intervene
Fragile peace has returned to Rivers State after the political skirmishes heralded by the rocket fired into the States House of Assembly Complex last Sunday and the impeachment notice served on Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Following the escalation of hostilities from the camps of the immediate past governor of the state, Nyesom Wike and Fubara, voices of reason called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene.
Consequently, the warring parties met with President Tinubu on Tuesday with a view to finding a political solution to the matter.
The PDP Governors Forum also me with the parties.
Biztellers reports that the two meetings held in Abuja.
However, those familiar with the political terrain of Rivers State and the individual sparing partners aver that the end of the matter is not in sight, yet.
While the embattled governor, Fubara who had publicly declared willingness to lay his life in the struggle, is backed by the PDP, the Ijaw nation and other pro-democracy elements, his bitter mentor, Wike is known to be a dogged fighter and unrelenting bull in the in the field of politics.
These traits, analysts told Biztellers would ensure that the battlers are merely back to the drawing boards.
They would be looking into their different bags of mischief with a view to outdoing one another in the battle for the soul of Rivers State.
Political watchers expressed the view that there would be strategic realignments in the in the battlefield of Rivers State’s politics in the coming days.
However, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, assured that both Wike and Fubara met with President Tinubu with a view to resolving the issues.
While that was happening, there were skirmishes in Port Harcourt, as pro-Fubara elements, identified as Ijaw youths besieged the residence of Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Martin Amaewhule.
The protests, staged on Tuesday led to arrests, with the Police firing gunshots, feared to have left one dead and several others injured, some fatally.
Biztellers gathered that several arrests had been made with those taken into custody said to be more than 100.
But the youths are not deterred.
To show their resolve, the youths have been posting videos of their peaceful occupation of the embattled Speaker’s official residence and their sitting on the ground at the premises of the Rivers State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau (RSCIIB) to press home their point.
It was gathered that prominent among those arrested was Rivers State’s Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Chijioke Ihunwo.
He had stood strongly in condemnation of the efforts to oust Gov Fubara.
Before his arrest, Ihunwo said, “I want to condemn what happened in the state on Monday that a few persons want to cause a crisis in our state by wanting to impeach the governor of the state, Fubara.’’
On his part, Wike on Tuesday, received leaders of ethnic nationalities from the Niger Delta region, in his office in Abuja.
He kept sealed lips on the political brouhaha in Rivers State, and volunteered that what was important was supporting President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
Events of the coming days would show if supporting the Renewed Hope Agenda would see to drastic changes in the political terrain of Rivers State.
A former senator representing Sokoto East Senatorial District, Abubakar Umar Gada, has assured members and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the party remains strong and united in Sokoto State despite recent defections by some political figures.
Gada gave the assurance in a statement issued on Thursday in Sokoto, where he urged party loyalists to remain calm, focused and committed to the ideals of the PDP.
According to him, political defections are not unusual in Nigeria’s democratic landscape and should not be seen as a threat to the stability and strength of the party in the state.
SEE MORE: PDP’s Festering Crisis Chases Tambuwal to ADC
The former lawmaker stressed that the PDP still enjoys a strong grassroots presence in Sokoto, noting that the party’s structure across the state remains intact and capable of delivering electoral victories.
He explained that the strength of the PDP lies in the loyalty and dedication of its members, leaders and supporters who have remained committed to the party through various political challenges.
Gada also pointed out that politics allows individuals the freedom to make personal decisions, but maintained that the PDP as an institution remains resilient and firmly rooted in the aspirations of the people of Sokoto State and Nigeria.
He further disclosed that the party’s national leadership has already initiated measures aimed at strengthening internal unity and consolidating party structures across the country.
According to him, consultations and reconciliation efforts are currently ongoing among key stakeholders to address emerging concerns and reinforce unity within the party.
Gada noted that such engagements are designed to ensure the PDP moves forward with renewed focus, stronger unity and a clear commitment to democratic values.
He recalled that the party has successfully navigated several political challenges in the past and has consistently emerged stronger.
The former senator therefore urged PDP members in Sokoto State to remain steadfast and avoid actions capable of creating divisions within the party.
He also called on supporters to intensify grassroots mobilisation and strengthen party structures across all levels as the party prepares for future political contests.
The lingering intra-party crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has forced senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Tambuwal to dump the party for the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Tambuwal, a former governor of Sokoto State, disclosed this in a resignation letter dated March 11, 2026, addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Tambuwal/Shinfiri Ward of Tambuwal Local Government Area.
The letter, which was made available to journalists on Thursday, said the decision followed consultations with his political associates and supporters.
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“After deep reflection and extensive consultations with my political associates and supporters, I have decided to resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party with immediate effect,” Tambuwal stated.
According to the former Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, lingering disputes and leadership disagreements in the PDP made it increasingly difficult for him to remain in the party.
“The persistent internal crises, leadership disagreements and growing divisions within the party have made it increasingly difficult for me to continue my membership,” he added.
Despite leaving the party, the senator expressed appreciation to the PDP for the opportunities it gave him to serve in different capacities.
“I remain grateful to the party for the platform it provided me to serve Nigeria as Speaker of the House of Representatives and later as Governor of Sokoto State,” he said.
Tambuwal confirmed that he had joined the ADC alongside his political associates and supporters, describing the move as part of efforts to strengthen democratic values and provide a credible political alternative.
“My decision is guided by the conviction that Nigeria requires a stronger political platform built on integrity, accountability, inclusiveness and a clear commitment to national development,” he added.
Tambuwal served as Speaker of the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2015 before emerging governor of Sokoto State in 2015 under the All Progressives Congress (APC). He later defected to the PDP the same year and was re-elected governor in 2019.
After completing his second term in 2023, he was elected to the Nigerian Senate to represent Sokoto South.
His defection to the ADC is expected to alter the political dynamics in Sokoto State, where he remains one of the state’s most influential political figures.
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has explained that the persistent crisis and legal disputes within the Peoples Democratic Party compelled him to defect to the All Progressives Congress.
The governor’s defection was formally announced on Monday by his deputy, Mani Mummuni, after a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Gusau.
In a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the move was described as a necessary step taken in the interest of the state and supported by political stakeholders across Zamfara.
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According to the statement, Governor Lawal had remained committed to the PDP despite the ongoing leadership crisis and had made several efforts to reconcile factions within the party.
However, attempts to achieve peace and unity reportedly failed, leading to prolonged legal battles.
The development followed a judgment by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which dismissed an appeal filed by the PDP challenging an earlier ruling of the Federal High Court.
The earlier judgment had restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising the outcome of the party’s national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The governor was said to have informed political stakeholders during a series of meetings that he would make a final decision about his political future after the appellate court delivered its ruling.
Following the judgment, Lawal concluded that joining the APC would better position him to continue what he described as the “Zamfara Rescue and Rebuild Mission.”
His defection marks a significant shift in the political landscape of Zamfara State and could influence political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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