The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has opened up on the political developments that unsettled Rivers State in recent days, disclosing that Governor Siminalayi Fubara withdrew from the 2027 governorship contest as part of a peace agreement aimed at ending the prolonged political crisis in the state.
Wike, who spoke with journalists on Monday after inspecting ongoing infrastructure projects across Abuja, also threw his weight behind the emergence of Kingsley Chinda as a leading governorship contender, describing him as a good product capable of leading Rivers State.
The former Rivers governor disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had brokered a political settlement between rival camps in Rivers State, with one of the key conditions being that impeachment threats against Fubara would be dropped if the governor agreed not to seek a second term in office.
According to Wike, the understanding was reached to restore calm in the state after months of intense political tension and power struggles between factions loyal to the governor and those aligned with the former governor.
“In the first place, he ought not to have collected the form because an agreement was reached that the impeachment should be dropped while he should also not seek a second term,” Wike said.
He accused Fubara of breaching the spirit of the agreement by initially obtaining nomination forms for the governorship race, arguing that the move undermined the peace efforts initiated by the President.
Wike said the governor’s action did not show signs of statesmanship and suggested it weakened the confidence built during negotiations among political stakeholders in the state.
“But whatever it is, he has withdrawn and somebody has emerged,” the minister added.
The FCT minister also praised Chinda’s political experience and leadership credentials, saying his emergence as a governorship candidate was unsurprising given his track record in public service.
“A good product markets itself. Everybody knows that Kingsley Chinda is the material.
“He’s quite experienced. He has worked with the executive and now in the legislature. I’m sure that he must have been approached by the All Progressives Congress to join them and then get the ticket,” he said.
Chinda currently serves as the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and remains one of the most prominent political figures from Rivers State at the national level.
Wike’s comments are expected to further reshape the political landscape in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections, especially as political realignments continue within the major parties.
