Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has confirmed a political break with Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, as political alignments begin to shift ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike said he would back a successor he considers trustworthy, stressing that he would not repeat what he described as the political miscalculations of the 2023 election cycle. He made the remarks while addressing supporters over the weekend in Ahoada Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The former Rivers State governor alleged that earlier political agreements reached with Fubara were breached, making continued collaboration untenable.
“We will not make the mistake we made in 2023,” Wike said, adding that no individual would dictate political outcomes in Rivers State.
He dismissed suggestions that political slogans, rallies, or public chants could automatically secure party tickets, noting that electoral decisions are shaped by strategic interests rather than crowd sentiments.
Wike also addressed Governor Fubara’s recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), clarifying that his support for President Bola Tinubu does not equate to backing Fubara’s re-election bid.
While reaffirming his support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition, Wike cited what he described as the president’s goodwill toward Rivers State, including his appointment as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
However, he stressed that political choices in the state would be guided strictly by trust and shared interests.
“Politics is about interest,” Wike said. “I will support someone I can trust—someone I can sleep with my eyes closed.”