Mr. Nyesom Wike, has ascribed the withdrawal of the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship race to an agreement with factions opposed to him to shelve his impeachment on the condition that he would not seek re-election in 2027.
The Minister of the federal capital territory spoke on Monday during an inspection tour of projects lined up for the third anniversary of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
Fubara had earlier announced his withdrawal from the contest a day before the primary, stating that his decision was driven by “conviction and sacrifice for the state to move forward in peace and unity.”
On May 21, House of Representatives member, Kingsley Chinda, who is widely regarded as an ally of Wike, emerged winner of the Rivers APC governorship primary election.
“I’m not surprised that the governor withdrew,” Mr Wike said.
According to him, the arrangement surrounding the political crisis in the state included an understanding that the impeachment process against the governor would be dropped on the condition that he would not seek a second term.
“In the first place, he ought not to have collected the [APC nomination] form because the agreement was reached that impeachment should be dropped, while he should also not talk about a second tenure,” Mr Wike stated.
The political bad blood between Wike and Fubara has persisted for months, resulting in heightened tensions and attempts by some members of the Rivers State House of Assembly—largely considered loyal to Wike—to initiate impeachment proceedings against the governor.
President Bola Tinubu had intervened in efforts to broker peace between both sides, but the disagreement has continued to shape political developments in the state.
