Barely two years to the 2027 general elections, the political battle for control of Rivers State has intensified, with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, moving to reclaim his political structure in preparation for delivering victory to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The development follows the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission’s (RSIEC) announcement of a new date, August 30, 2025, for local government elections across the state’s 23 councils. The polls were earlier annulled in October 2024 and rescheduled for August 9, 2025, before being shifted again by the new RSIEC Chairman, Dr. Michael Odey, citing security concerns.
Supporters of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara appear politically stranded. According to insiders, the governor has given no directives to his camp since his suspension in March, leaving many of his allies sidelined. Reports suggest that he rejected offers to nominate candidates under the PDP platform, fueling speculation about his possible defection to the APC; a condition allegedly included in his peace accord with the Presidency.
His once-vibrant grassroots network, the Simplified Movement, has also gone silent, with members now operating cautiously to avoid political sanctions.
Both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are grappling with internal leadership tussles. In the APC, Chief Emeka Beke insists on being the authentic state chairman, while Chief Tony Okocha, Wike’s ally, enjoys the backing of Abuja. Both factions have submitted separate lists of candidates to RSIEC.
Similarly, the PDP is split between Chief Aaron Chukwuma, a Wike loyalist, and Hon. Robinson Ewor, a Fubara sympathizer reinstated by a court ruling. The crisis has deepened, with aspirants reportedly crossing over between PDP and APC during primaries, further blurring party lines.
Analysts believe Wike is strategically positioning himself to deliver Rivers to Tinubu in 2027. In 2023, he defied his own party, PDP, to support Tinubu, securing APC’s victory in the state. Now, with his loyalists controlling the majority of candidacies for the forthcoming LG polls, Wike is consolidating his dominance.
At a campaign rally, APC factional chairman Tony Okocha and South-South APC Vice Chairman Victor Giadom vowed the party would sweep all 23 councils and 319 wards.
The situation took a new twist when President Tinubu reportedly modified the powers of the Rivers State Sole Administrator, IBAS Ibok Ete, through a July 22 gazette. The document grants the Sole Administrator sweeping authority, including the power to appoint RSIEC members and manage electoral disputes, sidelining the suspended governor’s influence.
Critics argue that this undermines democratic processes and effectively reduces Governor Fubara should he return to office to a figurehead.
With RSIEC pushing ahead with the August 30 polls, the political field appears firmly tilted in Wike’s favour. His open declaration to lead Tinubu’s 2027 campaign in Rivers, coupled with APC and PDP structures aligning under his control, suggests the former governor is on course to cement his dominance in the state’s politics.
