Wike denies endorsing any candidate for 2027 Rivers gov'ship race

By James Ike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has denied endorsing any aspirant for the 2027 governorship election in Rivers State, insisting that a decision can only be taken after consultations within a joint political coalition in the state.

Speaking during his monthly media chat in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike said the coalition, made up of loyalists from both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), was yet to meet to decide on a preferred candidate.

“I have not endorsed anybody and I cannot endorse somebody until the joint coalition meets,” Wike said.

According to him, the alliance between members of the PDP and APC in the state is part of a broader political strategy ahead of the 2027 elections.

“We have loyalists in PDP, we have loyalists in APC. I have never hidden the fact that we have a rainbow coalition. We have put ourselves together and it is a political strategy because we have somebody we will fight,” he stated.

The former Rivers governor also clarified that the coalition is not aligned with Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who is reportedly seeking the APC governorship ticket ahead of the election.

Wike accused Fubara of failing to honour an agreement reached with members of the Rivers State House of Assembly during a peace meeting convened by President Bola Tinubu to resolve the political crisis in the state.

“You know that we and Fubara are not working. So, as politicians, we must strategize. I don’t need to unveil our strategy,” he said.

He explained that the intervention by President Tinubu helped stop an impeachment move against the governor after Fubara reportedly agreed to terms aimed at restoring peace.

“The president intervened in the impeachment issue and said, ‘hold on, let’s have peace.’ The governor said he was ready for peace and no longer interested in the conflict. The Assembly then withdrew the impeachment before the President,” Wike added.

The political feud between Wike and Fubara has lingered since 2023, despite Wike backing Fubara’s emergence as governor.

The disagreement, largely over control of political structures in the state, deepened after lawmakers loyal to Wike, led by Martin Amaewhule, initiated impeachment proceedings against the governor.

The crisis eventually prompted President Tinubu to suspend Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly in March 2025.
Following the suspension, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas was appointed as sole administrator of the state.

The emergency rule was later lifted after a reconciliation meeting involving Tinubu, Wike, Fubara, Amaewhule, and other political stakeholders, paving the way for the return of the suspended officials.