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.

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

Wike Slams Fubara Over Budget Delay, Accuses Him of Prioritising 2027 Ambition

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has sharply criticised Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara over what he described as the neglect of governance and an excessive focus on political positioning ahead of the 2027 elections.

Wike, speaking during a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, accused the governor of failing to properly discharge his constitutional duty by delaying the presentation of the state’s appropriation bill while allegedly concentrating on his second-term ambition.

“The governor is yet to submit his budget to the House of Assembly, but he is busy pursuing his second-term ambition,” Wike said.

He warned that continued delay in presenting the budget could cripple governance in Rivers State, stall development projects, and affect the delivery of essential public services.

The exchange is the latest escalation in the prolonged political conflict between Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara, which has split the Rivers State House of Assembly into rival factions and created parallel legislative alignments.

At the centre of the crisis is a struggle for control of the legislative arm, with one faction led by Martin Amaewhule and aligned with Wike, and another group previously recognised under Victor Oko-Jumbo, which has been sympathetic to Fubara.

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In December 2024, Fubara presented a ₦1.1 trillion 2025 budget proposal to the Oko-Jumbo-led faction. However, legal and political disputes over the legitimacy of both factions have since complicated budget implementation and governance processes in the state.

The crisis escalated further following a Supreme Court judgment delivered in February 2025, which affirmed earlier Federal High Court orders restricting access to Rivers State’s federal allocations. The apex court directed the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to withhold statutory allocations to Rivers State until due constitutional processes are followed, particularly the presentation of the budget before the properly recognised House of Assembly leadership.

Following the ruling and intervention efforts by President Bola Tinubu, Governor Fubara wrote to the Amaewhule-led Assembly seeking a new date for the presentation of the 2025 budget. In a letter dated March 13, he requested a convenient sitting date to comply with the court directive.

However, tensions persisted when Fubara arrived at the Assembly complex in Port Harcourt with members of his cabinet but was reportedly denied access, despite claims that prior communication had been made.

The Rivers State House of Assembly, aligned with the Wike-backed faction, later insisted that the governor had not fully complied with the Supreme Court judgment. Lawmakers subsequently directed him to re-present the 2025 budget properly before the recognised Assembly leadership.

They also accused Fubara of inconsistency in handling correspondence regarding the budget presentation, deepening the mistrust between both arms of government.

The ongoing standoff has intensified concerns over governance paralysis in Rivers State, with analysts warning that the feud between Wike and Fubara could further destabilise administrative functions if unresolved. Observers say the crisis reflects a broader struggle for political control in the state ahead of the 2027 election cycle, with both camps accused of positioning themselves for long-term influence.

Despite reconciliation efforts reportedly initiated at the federal level, the dispute continues to shape legislative activity, budget implementation, and political alignment within Rivers State.

Wike Slams Fubara Over Budget Delay, Accuses Him of Prioritising 2027 Ambition

Davido Suspends Music Activities to Mobilise Votes for Adeleke’s Re-election

Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido has announced a temporary suspension of his music activities for two months to support the re-election campaign of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke ahead of the August 15 governorship election in the state.

Davido made the declaration on Tuesday in Ede during the inauguration of the Imole Youth Campaign Mobilisation Team, where he said his decision was driven by both family ties and what he described as confidence in the governor’s performance in office. He noted that the administration still has ongoing projects and responsibilities that require continuity.

He explained that his involvement in the campaign goes beyond familial relationship, stressing that it is also motivated by his belief in the governor’s leadership and developmental efforts across Osun State.

Davido said his goal is to mobilise strong grassroots support for the re-election bid using youth engagement, community outreach, and influence across different parts of the state. He added that the youth structure would play a central role in reaching voters at the grassroots.

He urged members of the campaign team to intensify door-to-door mobilisation across all local government areas in Osun State, encouraging them to directly engage residents and communicate the achievements of the Adeleke administration.

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According to him, the campaign should also focus on presenting the government’s future plans in a clear and relatable manner, particularly to young people and rural communities.

Davido further stressed the importance of unity within the campaign structure, noting that effective coordination among youth leaders would be key to achieving electoral success.

The Imole Campaign Council Youth Committee, which he chairs, includes Adeshina Kayode Olododo as Vice Chairman and Hon. Gbenga Idowu as Secretary.

The committee also features federal constituency coordinators representing Osogbo, Ife, Ijesha South, Ijesha North, Ila, Ifelodun, Ede/Ejigbo, Irewole, and Iwo constituencies, tasked with overseeing mobilisation efforts across the state.

According to the campaign structure, the committee is responsible for driving youth engagement and grassroots mobilisation across all 30 local government areas of Osun State.

The development highlights the growing role of celebrity involvement in Nigerian politics, particularly in state elections where public figures are often used to boost voter outreach and political visibility.

Governor Adeleke, who assumed office after the 2022 Osun governorship election, is seeking re-election amid rising political competition ahead of the August poll.

Davido’s temporary withdrawal from music is widely viewed as a strategic boost for the campaign, given his strong influence among young voters and his large social media following.

Davido Suspends Music Activities to Mobilise Votes for Adeleke’s Re-election