2027 Rivers Guber: Wike Says No Endorsement Yet, Denies Working With Fubara

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike

2027 Rivers Guber: Wike Says No Endorsement Yet, Denies Working With Fubara

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stated that he has not endorsed any individual for the 2027 governorship election in Rivers State, insisting that any decision on political support will only be made after consultations within a broader political coalition in the state. Wike made the clarification on Wednesday during his monthly media chat in Abuja, where he addressed growing speculation about his preferred candidate and alleged political alignments ahead of the election.

According to him, discussions around endorsement cannot be concluded in isolation, stressing that a coalition involving members of both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State must first meet before any decision is taken. He explained that the coalition includes loyalists from both political parties, adding that the arrangement is part of a broader political strategy aimed at future electoral contests. “I have not endorsed anybody and I cannot endorse somebody until the joint coalition meets,” Wike said. He added, “We have loyalists in PDP, we have loyalists in APC. We have put ourselves together; it is a political strategy because we have somebody we will fight.”

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Wike also dismissed suggestions that he is working with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, noting that both sides are politically aligned differently ahead of the 2027 elections. He maintained that political strategies remain confidential and should not be expected to be disclosed publicly during media interactions. “You know that we and Fubara are not working,” he said, adding, “I don’t need to come and unveil our strategy to you.”

The former Rivers State governor further accused Governor Fubara of allegedly reneging on a political understanding reached with members of the Rivers State House of Assembly during a peace intervention facilitated by President Bola Tinubu. He claimed the agreement was part of efforts to prevent Fubara’s impeachment at the height of the political crisis in the state. “The president intervened in the impeachment palava and said, ‘hold on, let’s have peace.’ And the governor said, ‘I am ready for peace, I’m no longer interested in this,’” Wike said. He added that after the Assembly withdrew the impeachment move before the President, subsequent actions did not reflect the earlier agreement reached.

The political crisis in Rivers State escalated after a fallout between Wike and his successor, Governor Fubara, whom he supported in 2023. The disagreement led to divisions in the Rivers State House of Assembly, with lawmakers loyal to Wike—led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule—attempting to impeach the governor during the peak of the crisis. The situation later prompted President Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the state, during which retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas was appointed as sole administrator.

After about six months, the President lifted the emergency rule following renewed peace talks involving Tinubu, Wike, Fubara, Amaewhule, and other key stakeholders. The meeting reportedly helped restore political stability in the state, allowing the governor, his deputy, and lawmakers to resume normal governance. Despite the reconciliation efforts, political tensions and speculation over alliances ahead of the 2027 Rivers governorship election continue to dominate the state’s political landscape.