POLITICS
APC Governors Rally Behind Fubara, Frustrate Alleged Plot by Wike to Stall Rivers Governor’s 2027 Second-Term Bid
Fresh political undercurrents within Nigeria’s ruling party indicate that alleged moves by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to weaken the 2027 re-election ambition of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, may be facing serious resistance, following growing backing for the governor from several All Progressives Congress (APC) governors.
According to The Punch, party insiders revealed that the already strained relationship between Wike and his successor has worsened after some influential APC governors openly threw their weight behind Fubara’s second-term project. The development, sources said, did not go down well with the FCT minister, who is reportedly uncomfortable with the expanding political support base being built around the Rivers governor.
The report further noted that Fubara’s increasing acceptance within the national APC structure has added another layer of complexity to the unfolding power play. Despite being elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Rivers governor is said to have earned the admiration of key APC stakeholders, many of whom have praised his infrastructural and developmental strides across the state. This growing goodwill has reportedly strengthened his political standing within the ruling party.
Tensions within the APC were also said to have intensified following alleged moves by Wike’s allies to push for the emergence of former PDP National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, as a governorship candidate in Imo State without prior consultation with Governor Hope Uzodimma.
Uzodimma, who currently serves as Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, was reportedly displeased by the development. Sources disclosed that he, alongside some APC governors, subsequently began to coordinate a pushback against what they perceived as the FCT minister’s political overreach, thereby deepening existing cracks within the party’s power blocs.
Quoting a senior APC official, The Punch reported that the unfolding strategy is aimed at cutting Wike’s influence down to size, particularly in his home state.
“The plan is to weaken the FCT minister in his home state and reduce his influence and political power. This was further compounded by the fact that Wike is reportedly not favoured by some powerful members of the Tinubu administration.
“So, some All Progressives Congress’ governors mobilised their colleagues to support Fubara, and the result is what is playing out in the form of the renewed hostilities between the two men,” the senior APC official told The PUNCH on Monday night.
As political alignments continue to shift ahead of 2027, observers say the Rivers State power struggle is fast becoming a critical test of influence within the APC and the wider political landscape.