Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara was compelled to withdraw from the 2027 governorship election due to an impeachment threat. Speaking during an inspection tour of ongoing projects in Abuja, Wike revealed that the withdrawal was part of a political agreement brokered to stop impeachment proceedings against the governor.
Peace deal conditions
According to Wike, the understanding among political stakeholders in Rivers State stipulated that the impeachment process would be dropped on the condition that Fubara would not seek a second term in office. The minister noted that the governor breached the spirit of the agreement by initially purchasing the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship nomination form before later stepping down from the contest.
“In the first place, he ought not to have collected the form, because the agreement was reached that the impeachment should be dropped, while he should also not talk about a second tenure,” Wike said. “And for me, I’m not surprised that he has to withdraw at that stage. But with collecting form first, he didn’t show any sign of gentlemanliness. He didn’t show that sign, and that was not expected.”
President Tinubu's intervention
The former Rivers governor disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had repeatedly intervened in the lingering political crisis in Rivers State to prevent the impeachment process from escalating. “We thought that the President had been intervening severally and pleading with the legislature not to continue with impeachment, but whatever it is, he has withdrawn, and somebody has emerged as a governorship candidate for the APC,” he added.
Wike expressed satisfaction with the emergence of Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, as the APC governorship candidate for Rivers State in 2027.
Stakeholders applaud Chinda
A group of stakeholders under the aegis of Rivers Professionals (RIVPRO) has applauded the emergence of Chinda as the governorship candidate of the Rivers State APC. The group described his candidacy as a positive development for the state’s political future. In a statement issued by the Director of Publicity of RIVPRO, Nimi Solomon, the stakeholders noted that Chinda possesses the competence, leadership experience, and broad-based appeal needed to deliver inclusive governance and sustainable development if elected governor.
Solomon urged residents and political actors across the state to rally support for the APC candidate ahead of the governorship election. He highlighted Chinda’s professional background, administrative depth, and what he described as a detribalised approach to leadership.
Secretariat renovation update
In a different development, Governor Fubara has assured that the ongoing renovation of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt will be completed and handed over to the government by the first quarter of 2027. The secretariat complex had, for years, remained in a deplorable condition, with several structures deteriorated and basic amenities such as water and electricity lacking. The project reportedly suffered a setback following the declaration of a state of emergency in the state, but work resumed after the governor’s return from the emergency rule.
Speaking after inspecting the ongoing renovation work on the various office blocks within the secretariat complex, Fubara expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work on the project, which he said was aimed at providing a more conducive working environment for civil servants.
