The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has clarified that he has not yet backed any candidate for the 2027 governorship race in Rivers State.
During his monthly media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike explained that he would not make any endorsements until the political coalition in the state, which includes members of both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), holds a formal meeting.
“I have not (endorsed anybody) and I cannot endorse somebody until the joint coalition meets,” Wike stated.
He described the alliance as a “rainbow coalition” and a strategic move, noting, “We have put ourselves together and it is a political strategy because we have somebody we will fight.”
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The former governor confirmed that this coalition is not collaborating with the current governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who is reportedly seeking the APC ticket for the next election.
Wike accused Fubara of failing to uphold a peace agreement brokered by President Bola Tinubu, which had originally stopped impeachment proceedings against him.
“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,” Wike remarked.
He detailed how the President had intervened in the conflict, saying, “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’.”
He further noted that although the Assembly withdrew the impeachment notice out of respect for the President, the governor later tried to be “too smart on what you agreed before the president.”
The ongoing battle for political control in Rivers State previously led to a major crisis, resulting in President Tinubu suspending the state government in March 2025 and appointing retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as a sole administrator.
Although the emergency rule was lifted six months later following a reconciliation meeting in June, these latest comments suggest that the rift between Wike and his successor remains unresolved.
