Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has confirmed a political fallout with Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, as the 2027 elections draw closer.
Wike said he would personally support a candidate he trusts to succeed Fubara, insisting he would not repeat what he described as the errors of the 2023 election.
The former Rivers governor made the statement while addressing his supporters over the weekend in Ahoada Local Government Area of the state. He alleged that agreements previously reached with Fubara were breached, making continued political cooperation impossible.
“We will not make the mistake we made in 2023,” Wike said, stressing that no individual would dictate political decisions to him in Rivers State.
He also played down the significance of political slogans and rallies, noting that neither guarantees an automatic ticket for any aspirant.
DAILY POST reports that Governor Fubara recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). However, Wike clarified that his open support for President Bola Tinubu does not amount to automatic backing for Fubara’s re-election.
Reaffirming his support for Tinubu’s second-term bid, Wike said the president had shown goodwill to Rivers State, citing his appointment as FCT minister.
Nonetheless, he maintained that decisions in Rivers politics would be driven strictly by trust and personal interest.
“Shouting ‘on your mandate’ 50 times a day will not give anyone an automatic ticket. Politics is about interest,” Wike said, adding that he would only support a candidate he can trust and “sleep with his eyes closed.”
