Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has claimed that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara agreed not to seek re-election in 2027 as part of a peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu to end the political crisis in the state.
Speaking to journalists on Monday during an inspection of infrastructure projects in Abuja, Mr Wike said the agreement also required lawmakers to suspend impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara.
“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 second tenure,” Mr Wike said.
According to the former Rivers governor, Mr Fubara later breached the agreement by initially obtaining the APC governorship nomination form before eventually withdrawing from the race.
He said President Tinubu had repeatedly intervened in the dispute in an effort to restore stability in Rivers State.
“We thought that Mr 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intervening severally and pleading with the legislature not to continue with impeachment, but whatever it is, he has withdrawn and somebody has emerged,” he stated.
Mr Wike also welcomed the emergence of Kingsley Chinda as the APC governorship candidate, describing him as an experienced politician with broad acceptance.
“Everybody knows that Kingsley Chinda is the material. He’s quite experienced. He has worked with the executive and now in the legislature,” he said.
The comments are the latest development in the prolonged political crisis in Rivers State, which has deepened divisions between Mr Wike and Governor Fubara, once considered close allies.
The minister spoke after inspecting several ongoing infrastructure projects in the Federal Capital Territory, including the Renewed Hope City project in Karsana, the Old Keffi Road in Dei-Dei, the Airport Road-Kuje Road, and the Abuja City Gate renovation.
Mr Wike said several of the projects were nearing completion ahead of inauguration ceremonies.
On the Abuja City Gate renovation, he praised Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, describing the initiative as her “brainchild”.
“I’m very happy and pleased with the quality of the job and I’m sure anybody who passes here in the night will see a different city when they are coming in,” he said.
“They know they are coming to a city, the capital of Nigeria.”
