Fubara: Wike Speaks On The Candidate He Will Support In Rivers

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has signalled a political separation from Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, saying he will back a candidate he can trust to succeed the governor in the 2027 general elections.

Wike stated this while addressing his supporters over the weekend in the Ahoada Local Government Area of Rivers State, explaining that past agreements with Governor Fubara had been breached, making further political cooperation untenable.

The former Rivers governor warned against repeating what he described as errors from the 2023 election cycle.

“We will not make the mistake we made in 2023,” Wike said, adding that no individual would dictate his political decisions in Rivers State.

He also dismissed the notion that political slogans and rallies would automatically secure an electoral ticket for any aspirant.

“So, if you like, shout on your mandate 50 times a day. It will not give you an automatic ticket. If you like, bring everybody, shout on your mandate; that is not an automatic ticket,” he said.

Wike clarified that his open support for President Bola Tinubu does not equate to automatic backing for Governor Fubara’s re‑election bid.

“Politics is about interest,” he said, stressing that his political alignments would be guided by trust and interests rather than unquestioning loyalty.

Wike reaffirmed his support for Tinubu, saying the president deserved a second term and citing what he described as Tinubu’s goodwill towards Rivers State, including his appointment as FCT Minister.

The Minister emphasised that he would back only a candidate he could rely on, one he could “sleep with his eyes closed.”

“I will personally support a candidate I can trust to succeed Fubara,” he declared, underlining that political collaboration must be anchored on mutual confidence and shared objectives.