According to a report by Arise News, on Wednesday February 4, 2026, the intricate and often volatile political landscape of Rivers State has once again become a focal point of national discourse following strategic moves by the presidency. The friction within the state’s leadership has drawn various experts into the fray, with many analyzing the delicate balance of power between the current administration and influential power brokers.
Offering a deep dive into these dynamics, political scientist Akinwunmi Akinfenwa shared a perspective that underscores the high stakes involved for the federal government. He said, “If you remove Wike now, he has the capacity to damage the president’s political ambition.”
This observation arrives at a time when the political atmosphere in Rivers State remains charged, characterised by a persistent tug-of-war that followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s direct involvement in resolving local administrative disputes.
The state recently teetered on the edge of a constitutional crisis when Governor Siminalayi Fubara was confronted with the looming threat of impeachment, a move that risked paralyzing the entire state’s governance.
The President’s decision to step in and freeze these proceedings was widely viewed as a tactical necessity, acknowledging that figures like the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, remain indispensable to the stability of the region and the broader success of the central government.
Akinfenwa posits that Wike’s enduring relevance is not merely a product of his current ministerial role but is instead anchored in his formidable grip on grassroots mobilization.
While many contemporary politicians depend heavily on the prestige of their titles or the branding of their political parties, Wike has cultivated an exceptionally resilient network of loyalists and local organizers. This machinery is capable of swaying public opinion and dictating the direction of electoral results with significant precision.
Because of this entrenched influence, he holds a unique position of leverage that transcends party lines, affecting the fortunes of both the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party within the South-South geopolitical zone.
The analysis further suggests that although Governor Fubara occupies the highest office in the state, he has yet to establish the same level of deep-seated structural support that his predecessor enjoys. This disparity in political capital ensures that Wike remains a central figure in any strategic planning.
Akinfenwa warned that attempting to sideline such a powerful operative could lead to a chaotic power vacuum. Such instability would not only disrupt the peace of Rivers State but could also derail the President’s long-term strategic goals as the nation looks toward the 2027 general elections.
This situation serves as a vivid illustration of the broader mechanics of Nigerian politics, where the weight of one’s personal influence and the ability to mobilise the electorate often carry more significance than formal executive authority. Figures who possess the “on-the-ground” machinery, like Wike, can dictate terms and shape national policy from behind the scenes.
As the political narrative in Rivers State continues to unfold, the insights provided by Akinfenwa highlight a fundamental truth: in the arena of Nigerian power dynamics, the true masters of the game are those who control the hearts and hands of the grassroots voters.
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