The recent political developments in Rivers State have taken a significant turn with Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s submission of a fresh list of commissioner nominees to the Rivers State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation. This follows the dissolution of the State Executive Council, a move widely seen as part of ongoing reconciliation efforts between the governor and his predecessor, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.
In what political observers describe as a clear demonstration of influence, the list reportedly features strong dominance from the camp aligned with the former governor. Sources indicate that 12 nominees are loyalists closely associated with Wike’s political structure, reflecting a strategic balance—or concession—in the power-sharing dynamics that have defined Rivers politics in recent years.
The composition of the nominees underscores the terms of the truce reportedly facilitated at high levels, including interventions by President Bola Tinubu. With the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly now positioned to conduct screenings, the inclusion of multiple figures from Wike’s network signals an attempt to foster lasting stability in the state after prolonged tensions.
Notably absent from the nominee list are two prominent figures previously speculated or lobbied for inclusion: Amb. Chijioke Ihunwo, the former Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area and a vocal supporter of Governor Fubara during earlier phases of the crisis, and Hon. Promise Reginald, who had served in caretaker committee roles and aligned with pro-Fubara interests in local government affairs.
Ihunwo, known for his anti-Wike campaigns in the past and his recent emergence as a candidate in local polls under platforms supportive of the governor, had been among those lobbying intensely for a commissioner slot. Similarly, Reginald’s name had surfaced in discussions around appointments tied to grassroots and local administration loyalty to Fubara.
Their exclusion has sparked reactions among political circles in Port Harcourt and beyond, with some viewing it as a deliberate sidelining of hardline pro-Fubara elements to accommodate the reconciliation framework. Others interpret it as evidence that the governor’s room for independent picks remains limited amid the need to harmonize with broader political interest
