As the politics of 2027 heats up, indications emerge that the major ethnic groups in Rivers State are spoiling for a fight over who becomes the next governor in what may spark further violence in the oil-rich state
By Chinedu Oguh, Port Harcourt
As political tussles gather pace ahead of 2027, Rivers State is once again emerging as one of Nigeria’s most closely watched political battlegrounds, with the contest for Government House increasingly shaped by legal disputes, ethnic battles and shifting alliances.
Tension is rising as the political landscape in Rivers State is becoming increasingly volatile as the battle for the control of the oil-rich state ahead of 2027 governorship election is turning to ethnic war. There is massive wave of defections reportedly rocking the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) especially in Ogoni land with furious party supporters openly regretting ever supporting the former governor, Chief (Barr.) Nyeson Wike in his political activities.
The angry stakeholders, youths, and elders accused the political structure in the state of continuously side-lining Ogoni people despite their population, contribution and sacrifices since the creation of the state in 1967.
According to them, since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, no Ogoni indigene has been allowed to govern Rivers State. And none of them has been elected as Deputy Governor, Speaker or Chief Judge of the state, while Ikwerre politicians have continued to dominate the state power structure for decades.
They pointed out that Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, an Ikwerre man ruled Rivers State for eight years, Nyesom Wike also from Ikwerre ruled for another eight years. Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker remained under Ikwerre control for years.
The protesters described the latest political moves as “an insult to other ethnic nationalities” alleging that Wike is now trying to impose another loyalist from his own local government and ethnic extraction on Rivers State people again.
At the centre of the unfolding contest is Hon. Kingsley Chinda, the APC’s governorship candidate whose emergence has continued to generate political and legal controversies within the state.
Following the withdrawal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and two other aspirants from the governorship race, Chinda, a longtime ally of the Federal Capital Territory Minister Chief Nyesom Wike emerged as the consensus candidate of the APC.
Chinda who hails from Elelenwo in Obio/Akpor local government area, represents a continuation of political leadership from Ikwerre ethnic bloc which has produced former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Nyesom Wike over the past 16 years.
“We have suffered political exclusion for too long. Rivers State does not belong to one ethnic group or one political family. Enough is enough” one of the aggrieved leader reportedly declared. “Are there no capable Ogoni sons? Are there no qualified Riverine leaders? Must power remain in one circle forever?” they asked. They further warned that 2027 will no longer be business as usual, describing that Ogoni people have now resolved to unite and project one of their own for governorship seat.
Political observers note that under the state’s longstanding informal power-sharing arrangement between upland and riverine communities, many expected that Riverine bloc retain power beyond Fubara’s tenure. His exit from the race has therefore intensified political tensions and reopened debates about equity and representation.
There are also indications of discontent within sections of Wike political coalition with some stakeholders reportedly expressing reservation about the choice of Chinda and direction of succession politics in the state.
The National President South-South Youths Initiative, Imeabe Saviour Oscar said that River people should not take Wike serious over his advice that River people should not vote the next governor of the state based on ethnicity but on competence. “Wike is an ethnic bigot and as such has no moral justification to tell people not to vote on ethnic bases.”
He went further to add: If Wike is not an ethnic bigot how come virtually all governorship candidates of his Rainbow coalition ranging from APC, PDP, Labour Party, and Action Alliance are all from Ikwerre? How come he never picked any from Ogoni or Ijaw, land which are all major ethnic blocs in the state? Is Wike telling us that only Ikwerre have the capacity to produce governors in the state? Or is he implying that only Ikwerre have competent people in River state?” said Oscar.
Beyond the political calculations, Chinda is facing legal challenges over allegations relating to his party status and questions have been raised about his eligibility to contest on the APC platform following claims that he remains a member of PDP under whose banner he currently serves in the House of Representatives.
The Incorporated Trustee of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDAP) have reportedly petitioned the Speaker of the House of Representatives seeking official records to establish whether a letter announcing Chinda’s defection to APC and resignation as Minority Leader was formally read on the floor of the House.
The group has also instituted legal action seeking to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing Chinda as the APC governorship candidate.
Compounding the uncertainty is a recent Court of Appeal judgment affirming an earlier High Court ruling affirming that invalidated the APC congresses which produced the state executive led by Chief Tony Okocha.
The appellate court upheld the decision of Rivers state High court that recognized the executive led by Chief Emeka Beke as lawful leadership of party, effectively crashing claims over actions taken by rival executive structure.
Legal analysts say the judgment could have far-reaching implications for subsequent party activities including ward, local government and state-level exercise conducted under the disputed leadership.
Meanwhile, political intrigue deepened after Wike publicly distance himself from reports that Chinda had already been adopted as the preferred governorship candidate of his political coalition, which comprises members of the APC, PDP, Labour Party and Action Alliance, had not endorsed any governorship candidate for 2027.
The development has fueled speculation that fresh legal and political uncertainties continue to surround the APC ticket. While Wike insists Rivers governorship race remains open amid succession debate, critics have alleged that ethnic considerations are playing a role in ongoing political calculations pointing to the prominence of aspirants from Ikwerre ethnic nationality among those linked to the race.
As the River politics enters explosive phase. The big question now is; Will Rivers people continue with the old or is this finally the beginning of a power shift. For Senator Magnus Abe, Ogoni will get governorship through strategic alliance not by fighting each other.
“It is not true that I have abandoned the Ogoni struggle for governor. I am a son of Ogoni. I have not, I want to assure all, we will get there, but we will get there the same way other people got there. No body got there by killing each other.”
