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No endorsed candidate for Rivers guber, we aren’t working with Fubara either, Wike says
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said he had not endorsed any candidate for the 2027 governorship election in Rivers State.
Speaking on Wednesday during his monthly media chat in Abuja, the former Rivers governor said such a decision would be reached after a meeting of the joint coalition is convened.
The coalition comprises members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“I have not (endorsed anybody) and I cannot endorse somebody until the joint coalition meets.
“We have loyalists in PDP, we have loyalists in APC. I have never hidden the fact that everywhere you say rainbow coalition. We have put ourselves together and it is a political strategy because we have somebody we will fight,” he said.
Wike however stated that coalition was not working with the incumbent governor of Rivers State Siminalayi Fubara, who is also seeking reelection in 2027.
The FCT Minister said the governor reneged on an earlier agreement with Rivers lawmakers and President Bola Tinubu.
“You know that we and Fubara are not working. So, as politicians, we must strategize, I don’t need to come and unveil our strategy to you.
“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, I will not do this’.
“The Assembly went and withdrew the impeachment before a president of a country. Now, having withdrawn the impeachment, you are now too smart on what you agreed before the president,” Wike said.
Wike and Fubara have been in a circle of political rifts over control of political structures in the state, which led to Fubara’a near impeachment by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The situation which resulted in chaos in Rivers State led to the declaration of a state of emergency by Nigeria’s president Bola Tinubu and the suspension of the governor, his deputy, and the legislators, with retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas appointed as sole administrator of the state for 6 months.
The emergency rule was finally lifted after Tinubu brokered a peace agreement and reconciliation between key political actors in both factions.
