Former Rivers State governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said that supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not guarantee Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara a return ticket in the 2027 governorship election.
Wike made the remark during a weekend visit to Enohia Local Government Area of Rivers State, a statement widely seen as a further escalation of the long-running political rift between him and his successor.
The crisis between Wike and Fubara has centred on control of the state’s political structure and has significantly destabilised Rivers State politics. The conflict led to the burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex and later prompted President Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the state.
During the unrest, 27 Peoples Democratic Party lawmakers reportedly loyal to Wike defected to the All Progressives Congress, triggering multiple court cases. In response, caretaker committee chairmen aligned with Governor Fubara defected to the Action People’s Party ahead of the local government elections, which they went on to win.
President Tinubu later intervened, with reports suggesting a peace agreement between both camps. Sources claimed one of the alleged conditions was that Governor Fubara would not seek re-election in 2027.
Following the expiration of the six-month state of emergency in September, the deputy governor and state lawmakers were reinstated, raising hopes of renewed political stability.
Earlier this month, Governor Fubara defected from the PDP to the APC after meeting President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He later formally announced his defection at the Government House in Port Harcourt, pledging support for the President. Some members of the Rivers State House of Assembly also defected to the APC shortly after.
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