The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said his political future would be seriously damaged if Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, is allowed to secure a second term in office.
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and a key political figure in the oil rich South-South state of Nigeria, made the statement on Saturday, 3 January 2026, while speaking to political stakeholders in Okrika Local Government Area.
Although he did not directly mention Governor Fubara by name, Wike made it clear that a firm political decision had already been reached ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Rivers State.
He said, “We have made a decision as far as Tinubu is concerned. The other one, no way. If we make another mistake, then we will bury ourselves politically. I will not allow myself to be buried again.”
Wike stressed that the position was final, adding that party members and political allies should be aware that the matter had been settled.
The FCT minister has in recent weeks increased his criticism of Governor Fubara, following the governor’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last month. Wike accused Fubara of breaching the terms of a peace agreement that was reached before the emergency rule in Rivers State was lifted, a development that allowed the governor to return to office.
Earlier in the week, Wike described the emergence of the current administration in Rivers as a “leadership mistake” and said it would be corrected in 2027. He also promised to speak openly about the agreement that helped restore Fubara to power when the time was right.
“We will not repeat the same mistake at the state level in 2027,” Wike said, adding that political leaders must place public interest above personal ambition.
At another stakeholders’ meeting held on Friday in Ogba, Egbema and Ndoni Local Government Area, Wike dismissed claims that Fubara’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would guarantee his re-election.
He warned that backing the president alone would not be enough to secure a second term for the governor, noting that political trust once broken is not easily rebuilt.
“All of us have agreed to work for Bola Ahmed Tinubu. That is not in doubt,” Wike said, while stressing that lessons had been learnt from past political decisions.
He added that steps were already being taken to avoid repeating previous errors, especially at the state level.
Wike also questioned Fubara’s leadership approach, saying a governor who struggles to maintain strong relationships with local government chairmen, state lawmakers and members of the National Assembly would find it difficult to lead effectively.
Responding to reports that Governor Fubara had dismissed his comments as “noise” in a New Year message, Wike insisted that Fubara owed his rise to political support he personally provided.
“I made him governor even when he was not popular among the people,” Wike said.
The political tension highlights the deepening rift between the two former allies, a rivalry that is expected to shape the Rivers State political landscape as the 2027 elections draw closer.