THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed speculations that he had endorsed any individual for the 2027 governorship election in Rivers State, insisting that no decision would be taken until the joint political coalition in the state meets.
News Point Nigeria reports that speaking during his monthly media chat in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike said discussions on who would emerge as the preferred governorship candidate of the coalition involving members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were yet to take place.
“I have not (endorsed anybody) and I cannot endorse somebody until the joint coalition meets,” Wike said during the media chat.
The former Rivers State governor explained that the coalition consists of loyalists from both the PDP and APC, describing the alliance as part of a broader political strategy ahead of future elections in the state.
“We have loyalists in PDP, we have loyalists in APC. I have never hidden the fact that everywhere you say rainbow coalition. We have put ourselves together and it is a political strategy because we have somebody we will fight,” he said.
Wike also clarified that the coalition was not aligned with Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who is reportedly seeking the APC ticket for the 2027 governorship election.
According to him, the political relationship between both camps had completely broken down.
“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,” he said.
The FCT minister further accused Fubara of failing to honour an agreement reached with members of the Rivers State House of Assembly during a peace meeting brokered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Wike said the agreement had helped prevent the governor’s impeachment at the height of the political crisis in the state.
“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’.
“The Assembly went and withdrew the impeachment before a president of a country. Now, having withdrawn the impeachment, you are now too smart on what you agreed before the president,” he said.
The prolonged political feud between Wike and Fubara has continued to shape Rivers State politics since the governor assumed office in 2023 with the backing of the former governor.
The disagreement, largely centred on the control of political structures in the oil-rich South-South state, escalated after lawmakers loyal to Wike, led by Martin Amaewhule, initiated moves to impeach Fubara.
The political impasse later prompted President Tinubu to suspend Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly in March 2025 following the deepening crisis.
Following the suspension, Tinubu appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as sole administrator of the state.
However, after six months of emergency rule, the President lifted the suspension, paving the way for Fubara, his deputy, and the lawmakers to return to office.
The lifting of the emergency rule followed a reconciliation meeting held in June involving President Tinubu, Fubara, Wike, Amaewhule, and other lawmakers, aimed at resolving the lingering political crisis in Rivers State.