Wike Reveals Why Fubara Won’t Contest Rivers Governorship Election in 2027
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said the political crisis in Rivers State ultimately denied Governor Siminalayi Fubara the opportunity to seek a second term in office.
Speaking during his monthly live media chat on Tuesday, Wike blamed the development on what he described as poor political decisions and the influence of individuals who allegedly misled the governor.
According to the former Rivers State governor, he repeatedly advised Fubara to remain loyal to the political structure that facilitated his emergence as governor rather than abandon it.
Wike recalled the challenges he faced when he assumed office as governor, noting that he inherited an administration with limited resources and had to rely on borrowed ceremonial vehicles before rebuilding the Government House and equipping the state with official vehicles.
He said he expected his successor to build on those achievements instead of dismantling the political structure that produced him.
The FCT minister alleged that some politicians who opposed Fubara’s emergence later became his closest advisers and encouraged him to confront his political benefactors.
“Those who never wanted you to become governor suddenly became your friends. Their mission was to destroy you by encouraging you to fight those who supported your emergence,” Wike said.
He maintained that while the political crisis did not affect him personally, it derailed Fubara’s ambition to seek another term.
Wike also disclosed that efforts were made to reconcile both camps but said political realities prevented a lasting settlement.
According to him, powerful external interests sought to take control of Rivers State for personal and financial gains, alleging that some influential individuals, including senior lawyers, played roles in deepening the crisis by giving the governor what he described as misleading legal and political advice.
The political rift between Wike and Fubara began shortly after the governor assumed office in 2023, escalating into a prolonged power struggle involving the Rivers State House of Assembly, impeachment threats, and a state of emergency declared in 2025.
Although Fubara later aligned with the All Progressives Congress and reconciled with Wike’s political camp, he eventually withdrew from the 2026 governorship race, a decision many linked to the peace agreement reached to end the crisis.
