Will Wike Have to Bow to Fubara in APC? Why the Party Says the FCT Minister Must Follow Rivers Governor—and What This Power Shift Means for 2027 Politics
Is Nyesom Wike’s political influence in Rivers State finally being clipped? If the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister decides to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), will he really be forced to operate under his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara? And what does this internal power struggle reveal about the battle for 2027?
The APC has made its position unmistakably clear: if Wike defects to the ruling party, he will not assume a dominant leadership role over the sitting Rivers State governor. According to the party’s Director of Information, Bala Ibrahim, leadership within the APC is tied strictly to current political office—not past power. While Wike would be “given a position” within the party, Ibrahim stressed that he would “certainly be under” Governor Fubara, who currently holds the highest elective office in Rivers State.
Why such a firm stance? Ibrahim explained that political authority follows office, not personality. “When he was the governor, he was followed. Now that he’s not the governor, he must follow,” he said, underscoring that once a leader vacates a seat, they no longer retain its power. In other words, past influence cannot override present authority in the APC’s hierarchy.
But is this just about party protocol—or something deeper? Reports suggest that Wike’s alleged efforts to undermine Fubara’s 2027 re-election bid have suffered a major blow. Several APC governors are said to have rallied behind Fubara, signaling growing support for the Rivers governor at the highest levels of the party. Party sources indicate that renewed tensions between the two men were triggered after top APC figures openly endorsed Fubara for a second term—an outcome Wike is reportedly opposed to.
What changed inside the APC? Insiders say the party leadership has become increasingly impressed with Fubara’s governance style and development projects, earning him favor among key decision-makers. This apparent shift in loyalty is being interpreted as a strategic move to consolidate power around the sitting governor while weakening Wike’s influence in his home state.
The conflict reportedly deepened when Wike’s allies attempted to push a preferred candidate for the Imo governorship without consulting the APC Governors’ Chairman, Governor Hope Uzodimma. Party officials claim this move backfired, prompting APC governors to close ranks around Fubara as part of a broader effort to curb Wike’s political reach. Some insiders even suggest that powerful figures within the Tinubu administration no longer see Wike as a favored ally.
So what does this mean going forward? If Wike eventually joins the APC, he may find himself navigating a party structure where authority is no longer shaped by his past dominance but by current officeholders—chief among them Governor Fubara. The unfolding drama raises critical questions: Is Wike’s era of control in Rivers coming to an end? Will Fubara emerge as the undisputed political force ahead of 2027? And is the APC deliberately re-engineering power in Rivers to sideline one of Nigeria’s most formidable political figures?
As endorsements mount and party leadership draws firm lines, one thing is clear: Rivers State politics is entering a decisive phase—and the outcome could reshape the state’s political landscape for years to come.
Is Nyesom Wike’s political influence in Rivers State finally being clipped? If the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister decides to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), will he really be forced to operate under his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara? And what does this internal power struggle reveal about the battle for 2027?
The APC has made its position unmistakably clear: if Wike defects to the ruling party, he will not assume a dominant leadership role over the sitting Rivers State governor. According to the party’s Director of Information, Bala Ibrahim, leadership within the APC is tied strictly to current political office—not past power. While Wike would be “given a position” within the party, Ibrahim stressed that he would “certainly be under” Governor Fubara, who currently holds the highest elective office in Rivers State.
Why such a firm stance? Ibrahim explained that political authority follows office, not personality. “When he was the governor, he was followed. Now that he’s not the governor, he must follow,” he said, underscoring that once a leader vacates a seat, they no longer retain its power. In other words, past influence cannot override present authority in the APC’s hierarchy.
But is this just about party protocol—or something deeper? Reports suggest that Wike’s alleged efforts to undermine Fubara’s 2027 re-election bid have suffered a major blow. Several APC governors are said to have rallied behind Fubara, signaling growing support for the Rivers governor at the highest levels of the party. Party sources indicate that renewed tensions between the two men were triggered after top APC figures openly endorsed Fubara for a second term—an outcome Wike is reportedly opposed to.
What changed inside the APC? Insiders say the party leadership has become increasingly impressed with Fubara’s governance style and development projects, earning him favor among key decision-makers. This apparent shift in loyalty is being interpreted as a strategic move to consolidate power around the sitting governor while weakening Wike’s influence in his home state.
The conflict reportedly deepened when Wike’s allies attempted to push a preferred candidate for the Imo governorship without consulting the APC Governors’ Chairman, Governor Hope Uzodimma. Party officials claim this move backfired, prompting APC governors to close ranks around Fubara as part of a broader effort to curb Wike’s political reach. Some insiders even suggest that powerful figures within the Tinubu administration no longer see Wike as a favored ally.
So what does this mean going forward? If Wike eventually joins the APC, he may find himself navigating a party structure where authority is no longer shaped by his past dominance but by current officeholders—chief among them Governor Fubara. The unfolding drama raises critical questions: Is Wike’s era of control in Rivers coming to an end? Will Fubara emerge as the undisputed political force ahead of 2027? And is the APC deliberately re-engineering power in Rivers to sideline one of Nigeria’s most formidable political figures?
As endorsements mount and party leadership draws firm lines, one thing is clear: Rivers State politics is entering a decisive phase—and the outcome could reshape the state’s political landscape for years to come.
Will Wike Have to Bow to Fubara in APC? Why the Party Says the FCT Minister Must Follow Rivers Governor—and What This Power Shift Means for 2027 Politics
Is Nyesom Wike’s political influence in Rivers State finally being clipped? If the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister decides to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), will he really be forced to operate under his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara? And what does this internal power struggle reveal about the battle for 2027?
The APC has made its position unmistakably clear: if Wike defects to the ruling party, he will not assume a dominant leadership role over the sitting Rivers State governor. According to the party’s Director of Information, Bala Ibrahim, leadership within the APC is tied strictly to current political office—not past power. While Wike would be “given a position” within the party, Ibrahim stressed that he would “certainly be under” Governor Fubara, who currently holds the highest elective office in Rivers State.
Why such a firm stance? Ibrahim explained that political authority follows office, not personality. “When he was the governor, he was followed. Now that he’s not the governor, he must follow,” he said, underscoring that once a leader vacates a seat, they no longer retain its power. In other words, past influence cannot override present authority in the APC’s hierarchy.
But is this just about party protocol—or something deeper? Reports suggest that Wike’s alleged efforts to undermine Fubara’s 2027 re-election bid have suffered a major blow. Several APC governors are said to have rallied behind Fubara, signaling growing support for the Rivers governor at the highest levels of the party. Party sources indicate that renewed tensions between the two men were triggered after top APC figures openly endorsed Fubara for a second term—an outcome Wike is reportedly opposed to.
What changed inside the APC? Insiders say the party leadership has become increasingly impressed with Fubara’s governance style and development projects, earning him favor among key decision-makers. This apparent shift in loyalty is being interpreted as a strategic move to consolidate power around the sitting governor while weakening Wike’s influence in his home state.
The conflict reportedly deepened when Wike’s allies attempted to push a preferred candidate for the Imo governorship without consulting the APC Governors’ Chairman, Governor Hope Uzodimma. Party officials claim this move backfired, prompting APC governors to close ranks around Fubara as part of a broader effort to curb Wike’s political reach. Some insiders even suggest that powerful figures within the Tinubu administration no longer see Wike as a favored ally.
So what does this mean going forward? If Wike eventually joins the APC, he may find himself navigating a party structure where authority is no longer shaped by his past dominance but by current officeholders—chief among them Governor Fubara. The unfolding drama raises critical questions: Is Wike’s era of control in Rivers coming to an end? Will Fubara emerge as the undisputed political force ahead of 2027? And is the APC deliberately re-engineering power in Rivers to sideline one of Nigeria’s most formidable political figures?
As endorsements mount and party leadership draws firm lines, one thing is clear: Rivers State politics is entering a decisive phase—and the outcome could reshape the state’s political landscape for years to come.
0 Commenti
·0 condivisioni
·88 Views
