The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said that the decision of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to withdraw from the 2027 governorship race was part of a political agreement designed to restore peace and stability in the state.
Wike made the remarks on Monday while speaking with journalists after inspecting ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja. The former Rivers governor said the development did not come as a surprise because it was in line with understandings reached during reconciliation efforts among political stakeholders in Rivers State.
According to him, the agreement that helped to calm political tensions in the state included the withdrawal of impeachment threats against Fubara, while the governor, in return, would not seek a second term in office in 2027.
“I am not surprised that the governor withdrew. In the first place, he ought not to have collected the form, because agreement was reached that the impeachment should be dropped, while he should also not go about a second term,” Wike said.
The comments are the latest twist in the prolonged political crisis that has divided Rivers State since the fallout between Wike and his former political ally, Fubara. The crisis, which started shortly after Fubara assumed office in 2023, created deep divisions within the political structure of the state and led to a prolonged power struggle between supporters of both men.
At the height of the dispute, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Wike moved to impeach the governor, leading to fears of political instability in one of Nigeria’s major oil-producing states. The crisis also affected governance, with tensions spreading across the executive and legislative arms of government.
Several interventions were later initiated by political leaders and stakeholders to restore calm in the state. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had previously intervened in the dispute, urging all parties to embrace peace and dialogue in order to prevent further escalation.
Fubara recently announced his withdrawal from the governorship race under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, saying his decision was taken after consultations with family members, political associates, and loyal supporters.
In a statement titled “My Decision to Withdraw from the Rivers State Gubernatorial Primaries,” the governor said he stepped aside in the interest of peace, unity, and stability in Rivers State.
He explained that the decision followed careful reflection and consultations with those close to him. Political observers immediately linked the move to the ongoing reconciliation efforts within the Rivers political structure.
However, Wike insisted that the governor’s withdrawal was simply a fulfilment of an earlier agreement reached during negotiations aimed at ending the crisis.
The minister also criticised Fubara for initially obtaining nomination forms for the race, saying the move contradicted the spirit of the peace agreement and complicated efforts to achieve reconciliation.
According to Wike, several interventions had been made to stabilise the political atmosphere in Rivers State, but some of the governor’s earlier actions raised concerns among stakeholders involved in the peace talks.
“He didn’t show signs of gentlemanship,” Wike said, suggesting that Fubara’s earlier political moves created doubts about his commitment to the reconciliation arrangement.
Despite the criticism, Wike said he was pleased that the governor eventually withdrew from the race, adding that another candidate had now emerged for the contest.
“But whatever it is, he has withdrawn and somebody has emerged,” the minister stated.
Wike also used the occasion to praise Kingsley Chinda, whom he described as a strong and experienced politician capable of leading Rivers State.
Chinda, a member of the House of Representatives and a prominent figure in Rivers politics, has been mentioned as one of the major contenders in the state’s evolving political arrangement.
“A good product markets itself. Everybody knows that Kingsley Chinda is the material,” Wike said.
“He’s quite experienced. He has worked with the Executive and is now in the Legislature. I am sure that he must have been approached by the All Progressives Congress to join them and then get the ticket.”
The minister’s comments are expected to generate fresh political debate in Rivers State, especially among supporters of Fubara, many of whom had hoped the governor would seek a second term despite the ongoing tensions within the state’s political establishment.
The rivalry between Wike and Fubara has dominated political discussions in the state over the past two years. Wike, who served as governor of Rivers State for eight years before becoming FCT minister, is still widely regarded as a powerful political figure with strong influence across the state.
Fubara, on the other hand, came into office with Wike’s support but later developed political differences with his predecessor over the control of the state’s political structure and governance direction.
The crisis led to the division of the Rivers State House of Assembly, legal battles, protests, and repeated calls for intervention by elders and stakeholders in the Niger Delta region.
Although recent peace efforts appear to have reduced tensions, political observers say lasting stability will depend on how both camps manage their relationship in the months ahead.
Many residents of Rivers State have repeatedly called on political leaders to put aside their differences and focus on governance, infrastructure, security, and economic development.
For now, Wike’s latest comments appear to confirm that Fubara’s withdrawal from the 2027 race was not simply a personal political decision, but part of a wider arrangement aimed at preserving peace within Rivers State’s troubled political landscape.