The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has confirmed a complete political break with Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, declaring that trust and self-interest will determine his choice of candidate ahead of the 2027 elections.
Wike said he would personally support a successor he could rely on, stressing that he would not repeat what he described as the errors of the 2023 political arrangement.
Addressing supporters at a weekend gathering in Ahoada Local Government Area of Rivers State, the former governor accused Fubara of allegedly violating prior political agreements, insisting that the breach had made continued cooperation impossible.
“Politics is about interest,” Wike said, adding that he would only support a candidate he could trust completely and “sleep with his eyes closed”.
He warned that no individual would dictate political decisions to him in Rivers State, dismissing claims that slogans, rallies or public chants could automatically secure an electoral ticket for any aspirant.
Wike also played down the political significance of recent mobilisation efforts, insisting that crowd size and repeated chants did not amount to guaranteed candidacy.
Reacting to Governor Fubara’s defection to the All Progressives Congress, the FCT minister clarified that his open support for President Bola Tinubu did not translate into automatic backing for Fubara’s re-election bid.
He reiterated his loyalty to Tinubu, saying the President deserved a second term, citing what he described as the administration’s goodwill towards Rivers State, including his appointment as FCT minister.
Despite this federal alignment, Wike maintained that political choices in Rivers State would be guided strictly by trust and personal political interest, not party affiliation alone.
His remarks have further deepened the political tension in Rivers State, signalling an early and potentially decisive battle for control of the state’s political structure ahead of 2027.
