The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said the decision of Siminalayi Fubara to withdraw from the 2027 governorship race was part of agreements reached to restore political stability in Rivers State.
Wike made the remarks on Monday while speaking with journalists after inspecting ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja.
According to the former Rivers governor, Fubara’s withdrawal from the governorship primary did not come as a surprise because it aligned with understandings reached during reconciliation efforts among political stakeholders in the state.
Fubara had earlier announced his withdrawal from the governorship contest, explaining that the decision was taken after consultations with family members, political associates and supporters in the interest of peace, unity and stability in Rivers State.
Reacting to the development, Wike stated that part of the agreement reached during peace talks was that moves to impeach the governor would be dropped, while Fubara, in return, would not pursue a second term bid.
The FCT minister also criticised the governor’s earlier decision to obtain nomination forms, describing it as inconsistent with the spirit of the reconciliation process.
“I am not surprised that the governor withdrew. In the first place, he ought not to have collected the form because agreement was reached that the impeachment should be dropped while he should also not pursue a second term,” Wike said.
He added that despite several interventions aimed at restoring peace in the state, some actions taken by the governor did not reflect what he described as “gentlemanship.”
Wike, however, noted that with Fubara’s withdrawal, another candidate had now emerged for the governorship race.
The minister also expressed confidence in Kingsley Chinda, describing the lawmaker as a credible and experienced politician capable of leading the state.
According to Wike, Chinda’s experience in both the executive and legislative arms of government makes him well suited for the governorship position.
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