Efforts by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike to influence the 2027 gubernatorial election in Rivers State and oppose Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s potential second-term bid have encountered resistance. This follows indications of support for Fubara from several governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The latest escalation between Wike and Fubara stems from decisions by influential APC governors to back Fubara’s re-election ambitions.
The situation intensified further with endorsements from the APC national leadership for Fubara, who is said to have gained favour among senior party officials, many of whom have praised his infrastructure developments in Rivers State.
The political relationship between the two men has remained strained, with Fubara facing sustained criticism and accusations from Wike and his allies in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
On Friday, Wike further intensified the political rhetoric, vowing that Governor Fubara would not be allowed to return to office in 2027. His remarks came shortly after Fubara, in his New Year address, dismissed Wike’s recent statements as “political noise.”
It was gathered that some APC governors have begun to mobilise other colleagues against the FCT minister.
A senior APC official had told the media “The plan is to weaken the FCT minister in his home state and reduce his influence and political power. This was further compounded by the fact that Wike is reportedly not favoured by some powerful members of the Tinubu administration. So, some APC governors mobilised their colleagues to support Fubara, and the result is what is playing out in the form of the renewed hostilities between the two men,”
