President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday held separate closed-door meetings with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru at the State House, Abuja.
The meetings come amid rising political tension in Rivers State and renewed speculation about Governor Fubara’s position within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Governor Fubara arrived at the Presidential Villa around 5:01 p.m, escorted to the President’s office by the Presidential Protocol Liaison Officer. He left at about 5:45 p.m.
Details of the discussion were not disclosed. Similarly, Governor Nwifuru, a former Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly and now an APC governor, met separately with Tinubu.
The purpose of his visit has not been publicly revealed, though his recent engagements with the Presidency have largely focused on infrastructure development and security coordination in the South-East.
Tinubu’s meeting with Fubara follows the recent defection of 17 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, from the PDP to the APC.
This mass defection has reshaped the state legislature’s power dynamics and added uncertainty to Fubara’s political trajectory.
Only three lawmakers aligned with the governor remain in the PDP, and they have yet to resume their seats following the lifting of the state’s emergency rule on September 18.
Earlier reports indicated that President Tinubu also met with six APC governors; Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Monday Okpebholo (Edo), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Usman Ododo (Kogi), Aliyu Sokoto (Sokoto) and Nasir Idris (Kebbi) in a separate closed-door session at the State House.
The meeting lasted nearly two hours, though no details of the agenda were shared.
These consultations coincide with increasing national security concerns and ongoing political developments within the ruling party.
President Tinubu has intensified engagement with security agencies, convening meetings with service chiefs, intelligence officials, and senior security stakeholders in response to the recent rise in banditry, kidnappings, and violent crimes across the country.
