Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has urged his supporters in Rivers State to pay attention to his preferred candidate ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Wike made the appeal on Wednesday while addressing supporters in Ahoada East Local Government Area, speaking to members of both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He instructed supporters to observe the movements of council chairmen and other party leaders loyal to him, saying this would reveal his anointed candidate for the state’s governorship.
The minister also called on supporters to back President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
“The other one as it relates to the State, we will come back. Watch where your council chairman is going. Watch where the PDP and APC chairman are going; anywhere you see them, that is where we are,” Wike said.
Wike’s remarks reflect his ongoing political rivalry with Siminalayi Fubara, his estranged former political ally, whom he has vowed to prevent from securing re-election in 2027.
The minister’s intervention signals the intensifying political maneuvering in Rivers State ahead of the next general elections.
Analysts note that Wike’s influence within both APC and PDP structures could shape candidate selection and voter alignment in the state.
The comments also underscore the complex political landscape in Rivers, marked by shifting loyalties and intra-party tensions.
Wike’s message is expected to mobilize his supporters while putting pressure on party leaders and potential candidates in the run-up to 2027.