Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara’s re-election bid triggers ego battle between the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma and the Minister for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike in the troubled Rivers
By Chinedu Oguh, Port Harcourt
The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara is ready, set and prepared for the next leg of his ambition to get re-elected in 2027, Tentacle can authoritatively reveal. This is coming after the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors Screening Committee led by the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Yilwatada Nentawe, gave him the green light. Governor Fubara has been cleared to seek the party’s sole gubernatorial ticket for Rivers State.
Last minute efforts to truncate Fubara’s re-election bid failed as those who made the moves met a brick wall. In fact, an insider APC source told Tentacle that there was literal war within the APC national leadership when some external powers sought to “buy off Fubara’s ticket at a very huge price.”
The APC was expected to have released the report of its screening; those of the National Assembly and the presidency on May 13, but the fight over Fubara’s and those of serving National Assembly members from Rivers seeking re-election, delayed the release. Just like some external powers sought to truncate Fubara’s, the same powers, Tentacle gathered, have been insisting that all except one member in the House of Representatives who is pro-Fubara must be replaced by those supporting the FCT Minister. The “powers” wanted only to exclude Hon. Boma Goodhead, a sister to Alhaji King Mujahideen Asari Dokubo.
Thirty governors of the APC including the Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and former Oyo State Secretary to the State Government, Sarafa Adebayo Alli have reportedly been cleared for the party’s primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Party sources confirmed the development to the media but disclosed that a flood of petitions had delayed the official release of the screening reports. The APC had earlier announced plans to publish the names of cleared aspirants on May 13 as part of preparations to meet the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The party reportedly screened no fewer than 7,980 aspirants for various elective positions, including one presidential slot, 28 governorship positions, 109 Senate seats, 360 House of Representatives and 991 State Assembly positions.
Governor Fubara who met with the National Chairman of APC on Wednesday 13th May 2026, reports said that the National Chairman Prof. Nentawe begged the Governor for the delay in presenting his clearance letter and told him that his loyalists who failed the Rivers State House of Assembly screening would all scale through.
Wike thought he was playing chess but Fubara and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma quietly turned the board against him. What was supposed to be a master political strategy is now looking like a dangerous miscalculation.
After moving his two “anointed” loyalists, Dax George-Kelly and Ogundu Kingsley Chinda into APC while leaving PDP almost empty, Wike believed he had fully captured the structure ahead of 2027. But politics is never that simple.
Inside APC, the Hope Uzodimma-led governors’ bloc reportedly drew a line and insisted that no sitting governor should be politically sacrificed. Their message was clear: if agreements made at the higher level were not respected, governors will begin to protect their own interests. That was the turning point.
Now the political wind is reportedly blowing strongly in favour of Fubara with growing talks that President Tinubu has aligned with the position that Fubara must not be blocked from seeking second term.
Right now, all signs suggest Fubara is quietly coasting to victory while Wike’s camp may be heading into a political trap of its own making. Some commentators are saying that the greatest mistake Wike made was that he allegedly moved almost all his political eggs into APC basket too early, believing absolute control was guaranteed. But power changes quickly in politics.
A few days ago, reports emerged that the Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum, Governor of Imo State, alongside his deputy were allegedly removed from their positions within the forum.
But almost immediately the same Progressive Governors Forum held a meeting and passed a strong vote of confidence on both men. That alone indicated that there is a serious political battle going on behind closed doors within the APC power structure.
At the centre of this political cold war, according to Cosy Joe who spoke to Tentacle is none other than Nyesom Wike. His political disagreement with Fubara is no longer hidden. The battle is now about who controls the political future of Rivers State.
Governor Uzodimma is known for playing silent but strategic politics. He rarely speaks publicly about battles, but politically, he moves carefully and decisively when necessary.
From all indications, he appears to support the idea of Governor Fubara remaining politically relevant and completing his political journey strongly in Rivers.
On the other hand, Wike appears determined to maintain total control of the political structure by installing loyal allies across key positions.
An online report disclosed that Wike’s anointed aspirant, former Minority Leader of House of Representatives Hon. Chinda has officially met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. According to the news, President Tinubu expressed his approval and total support, citing Chinda’s impressive legislative antecedents in the National Assembly. The President allegedly stated that Chinda’s wealth of experience and leadership qualities would greatly contribute to strengthening the economic well being and development of Rivers State.
The Rivers political crisis has continued for nearly three years following the fallout between Fubara and his predecessor Wike over control of political structures in the state. Wike who maintains strong influence within both PDP and APC opposed Fubara’s second term ambition.
All the 64 state assembly hopefuls loyal to Governor Fubara were disqualified in a dramatic manner while the 33 aspirants loyal to Wike were cleared. For many observers, the mass disqualification carried deeper significance than routine party screening. It signalled an aggressive consolidation of political structures by forces determined to dominate the legislative battlefield ahead of the next electoral cycle. Supporters of Fubara view the move as a calculated attempt to isolate the governor and weaken his grassroots influence.
What shocked many Nigerians recently was seeing Wike widely identifying with the PDP political structure, openly involved in APC political movements and reportedly backing preferred candidates within the APC power bloc.
At the same time, Governor Fubara also reportedly moved politically with support from powerful APC stakeholders especially governor Uzodinma.
Many believe this is no longer ordinary politics. It is a battle of influence, structure, control, loyalty and survival ahead of 2027. Many people believe Governor Fubara had already weakened Wike’s political structure significantly before the presidential intervention that led to his suspension and the appointment of an administrator for Rivers State.
Others believe the move created an opportunity for Wike’s camp to regain strategic control, especially at the grassroots and local government level.
If one man eventually controls both the political structure and electoral machinery of Rivers State without resistance, many fear the state could remain politically dominated for years to come. That is why many Rivers people are now calling for citizens to protect their votes and think beyond party loyalty, whether APC or PDP.
James Akor went further to say that what is happening in Rivers State today is bigger than rivalry. It is exposing the internal power struggle within the APC, weakening the PDP further in the state and reshaping alliances ahead of 2027.
Now the big question is who eventually wins this political war between Wike and Hope Uzodimma? And what does that portend for the future of Rivers State politics?
One thing is certain, Rivers State politics may never remain the same after the battle.
Meanwhile, tensions in Rivers State have taken a fresh turn as Niger Delta leader, Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo has issued a strong warning to President Tinubu and Wike over the ongoing political crisis in the state.
In a statement that has stirred reactions across the Niger Delta, Dokubo accused the President of backing actions capable of destabilizing the oil-rich River State.
The former militant leader did not hold back as he warned against any attempt to remove Fubara from office. According to him, such move would trigger serious consequences. “And I’m saying that if you remove Fubara something will happen.” Dokubo declared stressing his position as a stakeholder in River State and a voice within the Ijaw nation.
He further noted that his loyalty lies with the people of the Niger Delta, adding that he would not sacrifice their interests for political alliances even if he shares a relationship with the President.
Observers say Dokubo’s intervention carries weight due to his influence among Ijaw groups and former militant networks in the region. His remarks are being seen as a direct response to what some perceive as federal support for Wike in the power struggle.
Reactions to his statement have been mixed. While some residents and political stakeholders support his stance as defence of the state’s stability, others have criticized the tone of his warning, describing it as capable of escalating tensions. Despite the criticism, Dokubo remains firm, presenting himself as a defender of the people and mandate of Gov. Fubara.
