Dare Babalola
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revealed that the political truce brokered in Rivers State included an understanding that Governor Siminalayi Fubara would not pursue a second term in office.
Wike made the disclosure on Monday while addressing journalists after touring ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja. According to him, Fubara’s decision to pull out of the 2027 governorship contest was part of a broader arrangement designed to restore calm and reduce political tension in Rivers State.
The former Rivers governor stated that the governor’s withdrawal from the race did not come as a surprise because discussions held during reconciliation meetings had already outlined conditions intended to end the prolonged political crisis in the state.
Fubara had earlier announced his withdrawal from the governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress, explaining that the move was reached after extensive consultations with political associates, family members, and close allies. He said the decision was taken in the interest of preserving peace, unity, and stability in Rivers State.
Reacting to the development, Wike insisted that the governor’s earlier move to obtain nomination forms contradicted the spirit of the agreement reached by stakeholders during peace negotiations.
According to him, one of the key resolutions reached at the height of the crisis was that moves to impeach Fubara would be halted, while the governor, in return, would step aside from any re-election ambition in 2027.
Wike said the arrangement was aimed at creating an atmosphere conducive for reconciliation and preventing further political confrontation among rival camps in the state.
He criticised Fubara’s initial actions, saying they created doubts about his commitment to the reconciliation process despite interventions by political leaders and stakeholders seeking to stabilise Rivers politics.
The FCT minister, however, noted that the governor’s eventual withdrawal had paved the way for a new political direction ahead of the governorship election.
Wike also spoke on the emergence of Kingsley Chinda as a leading governorship contender, describing the lawmaker as a competent and experienced politician with the capacity to lead the state.
He praised Chinda’s background in both legislative and executive matters, saying his political experience and visibility made him a strong choice for the governorship position.
Wike further suggested that the lawmaker’s political profile may have attracted interest from the ruling All Progressives Congress, adding that his credentials and public appeal positioned him as a formidable figure in the state’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
