Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has alleged that Siminalayi Fubara breached a political agreement aimed at resolving the prolonged leadership crisis in Rivers State by initially seeking a second term in office despite an understanding that he would not contest the 2027 governorship election.
Speaking during an inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja on Monday, Wike claimed that President Bola Tinubu had intervened repeatedly to broker peace between Fubara and lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
According to the minister, part of the arrangement reached during the reconciliation process was that impeachment proceedings against the governor would be halted while Fubara would refrain from pursuing a second term.
Wike said Fubara’s decision to obtain nomination forms before later withdrawing from the race contradicted the spirit of the agreement and undermined efforts to sustain peace in the state.
He maintained that although the governor eventually stepped back from the contest, the initial move raised questions about commitment to the understanding reached among the parties involved.
The former Rivers governor also threw his support behind Kingsley Chinda, who recently emerged as a key contender in the state’s evolving political landscape.
Wike described Chinda as an experienced politician with a strong legislative background and expressed confidence in his leadership credentials.
The remarks mark Wike’s most detailed public comments since the latest developments in Rivers politics, where tensions between camps loyal to the minister and Governor Fubara have shaped the state’s political direction for more than two years.
The dispute has triggered legal battles, legislative confrontations and repeated interventions by the Presidency.
Political observers say Wike’s latest comments could further intensify debate over the future of Rivers politics ahead of the 2027 governorship election, especially amid ongoing realignments within major political parties and efforts to consolidate peace in the oil-rich state.
Neither Governor Fubara nor his media aides had issued an immediate response to Wike’s allegations as of the time of filing this report.
