Breaking: FCT Minister Nyesom Wike Reaffirms Support for President Tinubu Amid Rivers APC Clash Ahead of 2027 Elections FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has declared his unwavering support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election, emphasizing that his political structure in Rivers State is fully committed to the President. Wike made the statement on January 6, 2026, during ongoing consultations across local government areas in Rivers State. His declaration comes amid a public clash with APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru over party influence and local politics. Wike warned against interference in Rivers State, calling it a “no-go area” for outsiders. The tensions reflect deep divisions within the APC, particularly following Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s defection from the PDP to the ruling party. Despite these challenges, Wike affirmed that his loyalty to Tinubu remains non-negotiable, reinforcing his influence over grassroots structures in Rivers State as a key factor in the party’s electoral strategy. #NyesomWike #BolaTinubu #APC #RiversStatePolitics #2027Elections #PoliticalTensions #FCTMinister #NigeriaPolitics

Rivers State Police Arrest 12 Suspects Over Deadly Unity Estate Attack as Vigilantes Commander, Others Flee The Rivers State Police Command has arrested 12 suspects involved in a violent attack on Unity Estate along Mbodo–Aluu, Port Harcourt, on January 5, 2026. The assailants, reportedly members of a vigilante group and hired thugs, fired gunshots indiscriminately, vandalized property, and abducted one resident, Apostle Stephen Nmacha, who sustained a leg injury before being rescued. Police sources said the attackers stormed the estate around 1:15 pm, wielding pump-action guns, cutlasses, and other weapons. Investigations revealed that two suspects allegedly coordinated the attack and remain at large, along with the Akpor OSPAC Commander, Azubuike, aka “Ocean.” Recovered items include firearms, ammunition, charms, motorcycles, and vehicles. Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Adepoju condemned the attack as unlawful, warning that vigilante groups must operate strictly under police supervision. Residents have been urged to provide information to help apprehend fleeing suspects. #RiversStateAttack #UnityEstateIncident #RiversPolice #VigilanteViolence #PortHarcourtNews #AbujaCrimeAlert #NigeriaSecurity #CrimeInRivers #OSPACInvestigation #GunAttackNigeria

Passenger Boat Capsizes on Way to Abonnema in Rivers State, Panic Ensues as Commuters Rescued by Nearby Operators; No Casualties Reported A passenger boat traveling to Abonnema in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State capsized, causing panic among passengers mid-journey. Eyewitnesses confirmed that all occupants were safely rescued by nearby boat operators, preventing a potential disaster. The swift intervention of fellow river transport workers ensured that no lives were lost. This incident recalls a tragic boat mishap in October on the River Niger in Kogi State, which left many feared dead and several missing. Authorities continue to emphasize safety on waterways, as such accidents highlight the vulnerability of commuters to sudden riverine emergencies. #RiversState #BoatCapsize #Abonnema #RiverSafety #WaterTransport #EmergencyRescue

Akwa Ibom and Rivers Communities Cry Out Over Oil Pollution, Poverty Despite Rich Resources Communities in Akwa Ibom and Rivers States continue to suffer from oil pollution and poverty, despite being located in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta. Residents of Ibeno, Okoroitak, Iwuopom, and Ogoniland report contaminated rivers, ruined farmlands, and decaying infrastructure caused by decades of oil spills and gas flaring. Many locals, including women and youth leaders, describe loss of livelihoods, absence of healthcare, and lack of jobs. Despite the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) mandating 3% of oil revenues for host communities, locals claim they have seen no benefits. Cleanup efforts by HYPREP and companies like Shell are slow, leaving communities vulnerable and dependent on dwindling resources. Rights groups warn of corruption, mismanagement, and ongoing environmental hazards from abandoned oil operations. #OilPollution #NigerDelta #AkwaIbom #RiversState #EnvironmentalJustice #HYPREP #SeplatEnergy #ExxonMobil #PIA #CommunityStruggle

Six Rivers State House of Reps Members Defect from PDP to APC Amid Party Crisis Six lawmakers from Rivers State—Robinson Dekor, Solomon Bob, Cyril Hart, Victor Obuzor, Blessing Amadi, and Felix Nwaeke—have officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), reducing the PDP’s Rivers caucus to just two members. Speaking on the floor of the House, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas attributed the defections to “divisions and unresolved political crises” within the PDP. The lawmakers cited internal party conflicts as the reason for switching allegiance to the APC’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” under President Bola Tinubu. The defections follow Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s recent move from PDP to APC, signaling a significant shift in the state’s political landscape. #RiversStatePolitics #PDPDefections #APC #HouseOfRepresentatives #NigeriaPolitics

Fubara Says He Remains Rivers Governor by Tinubu’s ‘Special Favour’ After Emergency Rule Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has stated that he remains in office after the six-month emergency rule only through the “special favour” of President Bola Tinubu. Speaking at the Rivers State University convocation, Fubara linked the institution’s funding challenges to the political instability triggered by his rift with former governor Nyesom Wike. He assured that full administrative control has resumed and pledged priority funding for infrastructure, security, staff welfare, and struggling satellite campuses in 2026. The governor also commended the university’s progress and congratulated over 13,000 graduating students. Rivers State had experienced months of turmoil, prompting federal intervention and the suspension of parallel legislative activities. Fubara’s reinstatement to full executive power followed high-level negotiations led by President Tinubu. #RiversState #Fubara #Tinubu

Rivers State University VC Warns of Wider Security Threat After Abduction of Five Students The Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, has warned that the recent abduction of five students from an off-campus hostel poses a broader security threat that could extend beyond the university community if the perpetrators are not apprehended. In a video address, he confirmed that the institution has suspended lectures and is advising students in vulnerable areas to relocate temporarily. The university is coordinating with government authorities as efforts intensify to secure the safe return of affected students and track down the gunmen. The incident sparked a protest on campus and marks the second time students of RSU’s Emuoha campus have demonstrated over rising criminal attacks. The VC stressed that unchecked incidents of this nature could embolden criminal networks and endanger surrounding communities. #RiversStateUniversitykidnapping #RSU student abduction

News Brief: Parents Defending Pastor Arrested for Child Abuse Need Counselling – NAPTIP NAPTIP Rivers State says parents defending a pastor who flogged children during a “spiritual cleansing” need counselling. The pastor, Ifediorah Joseph, was arrested for abusing minors in a three-day programme involving beatings, pigeon blood, water, and palm fruit. Some parents, claiming they consented to the act, even celebrated at the police station after his arrest. NAPTIP’s Nwamaka Ikediashi stressed that both the children and their parents are victims and that awareness is key to preventing such abuse. #ChildProtection #NAPTIP #EndChildAbuse #RiversState

Headline: Tinubu: We’ve Upgraded 8,800 Health Centres, Spent N45.9bn; Over 100,000 Nigerians Benefit from Credit Scheme President Bola Tinubu announced that his administration has spent N45.9 billion to upgrade 8,800 primary healthcare centres, improving maternal care and diagnostics in underserved communities, though specific locations weren’t mentioned. Speaking at the 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings in Abuja, Tinubu also revealed that over 100,000 Nigerians have so far benefited from the national consumer credit scheme, with 400,000 more set to join in the next phase to boost small businesses and financial inclusion. He highlighted achievements in infrastructure, including completion of 279 roads, construction of major highways like the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Road, and expansion of rural roads. Nigeria has reportedly received over $52 billion from Afreximbank, supporting projects in energy, health, manufacturing, and creative industries, such as the Dangote Refinery and the Africa Medical Centre of Excellence. Tinubu confirmed Nigeria’s approval of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) and announced the launch of the Africa Energy Bank in Abuja with $5 billion capital to support clean energy transition. He praised Afreximbank President Prof. Benedict Oramah for growing the bank’s assets from $5 billion to $37 billion, and commended the institution’s role in Africa’s pandemic response, trade integration, and SME development. #Tinubu #Fubara #Wike #Amaewhule #RiversStateCrisis #TinubuPeaceTalks #HealthcareNigeria

Fubara, Wike, Amaewhule Reunite Publicly After Tinubu-Brokered Peace Talks Rivers State’s suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, and suspended State Assembly Speaker Martin Amaewhule made a rare joint public appearance at a funeral in Rumueprikom, just two days after President Bola Tinubu hosted peace talks in Abuja aimed at resolving their nearly two-year-long political rift. The gathering, which took place in Wike’s hometown, comes after months of tension that previously led to a state of emergency declaration in the state. Though no political statements were made, the event signals possible progress toward reconciliation. Prominent political figures, including Senators Allwell Onyesoh, George Sekibo, and Olaka Nwogu, were also in attendance, alongside other top leaders from the PDP and APC. Their shared presence has reignited hopes that the prolonged political crisis may finally be drawing to a close. #Fubara, #Wike, #Amaewhule, #RiversStateCrisis, #TinubuPeaceTalks,

JUST IN: Fubara Praises Tinubu for 'Timely Intervention' That Saved Rivers State from Collapse According to NigeriaStories, Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara has credited President Bola Tinubu with salvaging a dire political crisis in the state, saying the president “came in at the right time” and helped prevent a total breakdown of governance. In a striking statement, Fubara acknowledged that an emergency rule-like intervention by the federal government played a crucial role in stabilizing the situation. Rivers State had faced intense political turmoil marked by internal rifts and power struggles that threatened to paralyze governance. Fubara’s remarks are being seen as a rare public endorsement of President Tinubu’s crisis management approach, adding weight to the argument that federal mediation remains critical in preserving democracy and state stability in Nigeria. #SimFubara #PresidentTinubu #RiversStateCrisis #NigeriaPolitics