The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has dismissed claims that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, forced Governor Siminalayi Fubara to step down from the 2027 governorship race.
The party said Fubara’s withdrawal from the contest was part of a political understanding reached to restore peace and stability in the state after months of tension within the political structure in Rivers.
Fubara had on Wednesday night announced his decision to pull out of the governorship primaries in a statement titled, “My Decision to Withdraw from the Rivers State Gubernatorial Primaries.”
In the statement personally signed by him, the governor said the decision followed consultations with his family, political allies and close associates. He added that he would support whoever eventually emerges as the party’s candidate.
The Rivers governor explained that his action was taken in the larger interest of unity and peace in the state, stressing that the stability of Rivers must come before personal ambition.
Reacting to the development, the Publicity Secretary of the APC in Rivers State, Chibuike Ikenga, said the decision was not imposed on the governor by Wike or any political bloc loyal to the former governor.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE Television, Ikenga described the move as the outcome of an internal agreement aimed at charting a new political direction for the state.
According to him, the APC leadership in Rivers independently reached the decision after consultations among party stakeholders.
“Though Wike is a very serious colossus in Rivers State and Nigeria at large, he doesn’t influence what happens in Rivers State.
“We the members of APC discussed and took our decision solely on an agreement we had to chart another course, that is why the governor took that step for the interest of peace and progress of the state,” he said.
