Tension escalated in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Friday when supporters of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike and those of suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara engaged in a heated confrontation during a town hall meeting.

The meeting, which brought together stakeholders from both political camps as well as other Rivers natives and residents, quickly descended into chaos as participants expressed divergent views on the political crisis that has engulfed the oil-rich state for months.

Trouble began when Bright Amaewhule, President General of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), took the stage and highlighted his organization's role in Fubara's rise to power. "There's no indigene of Rivers State that will not recognize the role GDI played in the emergence of Sim Fubara as Governor of Rivers State," Amaewhule stated.

"Before the campaign proper, we moved Sim from one local government to another, not the Honourable Minister. GDI was the group that propelled Sim into being accepted by the people of Rivers State even when he was rejected by the people who claim to be his brothers and sisters," he added.

Amaewhule further claimed that those now surrounding Fubara were encouraging him to disregard party loyalty, which he identified as the root of the current problems.

These comments prompted an immediate reaction from Rivers Labour Party Chairman Hilda Dokubo, who walked out in protest saying, "I can't sit here and listen to this." Organizers eventually convinced her to return to her seat.

The situation further deteriorated when Kenwell Ibanibo took the stage and directly challenged Amaewhule's narrative. "I've heard the GDI Chairman say they supported Sim Fubara to become governor, but I'm asking you, what did he do to warrant the 1st impeachment attempt after just 5 months?" Ibanibo questioned.

"The point is, somebody somewhere who thinks he's the owner of Rivers State took this position and influenced the impeachment," he added, triggering an immediate backlash from Wike's supporters.

Led by Chibike Ikenga, the factional Rivers APC Chairman, Wike's supporters began interrupting Ibanibo, leading to a heated exchange of words. One Wike supporter was heard shouting, "Insult Wike now! Una go still beg, una go still come lie down. Person wey lie down never stand up una dey talk!"

Dokubo fired back, "Him no go lie down! I say him no go lie down! No be Wike lie down for somewhere so!?"

As the situation spiraled out of control, the moderator made repeated attempts to restore order while Jake Epelle tried to calm tensions. Security personnel were forced to take strategic positions around the hall as the confrontation intensified.

Peace was temporarily restored when Ibanibo voluntarily left the stage, allowing the town hall to continue. However, tensions flared again later when prominent Niger Delta activist Ann-Kio Briggs was interrupted by Ikenga, prompting her to respond firmly, "I don't know when you spoke, but I did not interrupt you, please let me be. If I don't speak for you, I speak for myself."

The political crisis in Rivers State has been ongoing for months, with President Bola Tinubu eventually suspending Governor Fubara for six months. The dispute has had serious consequences, including damage to oil facilities in the state.

The clash at the town hall meeting underscores the deep divisions that continue to plague Rivers State politics, with supporters of both Wike and Fubara remaining firmly entrenched in their positions despite efforts to find a resolution to the crisis.