The political crisis in Rivers State has intensified as several governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) reportedly threw their weight behind Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s second-term bid, dealing a setback to efforts by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to block his re-election in 2027.
Multiple APC sources disclosed on Monday that the renewed tension between Wike and Fubara was triggered by the decision of some influential APC governors to support Fubara, a move said to have angered the former Rivers governor. The situation was further heightened by what insiders described as tacit endorsement of Fubara by the APC leadership, following praise for his projects across the state.
The crisis reportedly escalated after Wike’s allies allegedly attempted to promote a former PDP national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, for the Imo governorship without consulting Governor Hope Uzodimma, the state’s chief executive and chairman of the APC governors’ forum. The move was said to have infuriated Uzodimma and prompted several APC governors to mobilise against the FCT minister.
A senior APC official said the emerging strategy was to weaken Wike’s political influence in Rivers State, noting that some powerful figures within the Tinubu administration were also uncomfortable with him. According to the source, the backing of Fubara by APC governors emboldened the Rivers governor to openly challenge Wike’s dominance.
Meanwhile, the political feud spilled into the open on Monday as APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru and Wike traded sharp words over Rivers politics and Fubara’s re-election prospects. Basiru urged Wike to resign his ministerial post and stop interfering in Rivers politics, saying the former governor had become obsessed with the state.
Basiru also dismissed Wike’s insistence that Fubara could not win re-election without his backing, insisting that the APC national leadership should not take sides in the Rivers crisis. He cautioned the party’s South-South Vice Chairman, Victor Giadom, against making derogatory remarks about the Rivers governor.
Giadom had earlier declared that Fubara could not succeed politically without Wike’s support, describing Gokana Local Government Area as Wike’s political stronghold. His comments drew criticism from Basiru, who accused him of belittling a sitting governor.
During a visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area on Monday, Wike warned Basiru to stay away from Rivers politics, accusing him of making reckless statements. He maintained that Rivers State remained a “no-go area” for political interference.
In a swift response, Basiru said Wike lacked the authority to meddle in APC affairs, stressing that the FCT minister was not a member of the ruling party. He also rejected claims that he was interested in Rivers State funds, describing the allegation as baseless and an attempt at intimidation.
The dispute comes amid lingering controversy over Fubara’s second-term ambition, following reports that a peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu after the Rivers crisis included an understanding that the governor would not seek re-election. However, Basiru’s recent statements appeared to reopen the door for Fubara’s 2027 bid.
Fubara formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC on December 9, alongside several Rivers lawmakers, positioning himself as a major force within the ruling party ahead of the next general election.
In another twist, the Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, and the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Benibo Anabraba, resigned their PDP membership. Odu has since registered with the APC in her ward, while Anabraba said his decision to quit the PDP was personal.
Reacting to the escalating tensions, Niger Delta activist and Rivers elder Ann Kio-Briggs criticised Wike’s vow to stop Fubara’s re-election, describing it as a threat to democracy and the will of Rivers people. She said no individual owns the state or its electorate, urging all parties to prioritise peace.
Also weighing in, former Lagos APC spokesman Joe Igbokwe called for restraint, warning that the public spat between Wike and Basiru was an unnecessary distraction for the ruling party as it prepares for future political battles.
