Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revealed that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara withdrew from the APC governorship primary because of an earlier agreement tied to the suspension of impeachment proceedings against him.
According to TheCable on Monday, Wike made the remarks on Monday in Abuja while speaking to journalists after inspecting ongoing infrastructure projects in the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the former Rivers governor, a peace deal reached during efforts to resolve the political crisis in the state required Fubara not to seek a second term in office.
“In the first place, he ought not to have collected the form, because the agreement was reached that the impeachment should be dropped while he should also not talk about a second tenure,” Wike said.
Governor Fubara had announced his withdrawal from the APC governorship primary a day before the exercise, saying he stepped aside “out of conviction and sacrifice for the state to move forward in peace and unity.”
Following his withdrawal, Rep. Kingsley Chinda, an ally of Wike, emerged winner of the APC governorship primary held on May 21.
Wike disclosed that the agreement was brokered with the intervention of President Bola Tinubu as part of efforts to end the prolonged political crisis in Rivers State and stop impeachment moves by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to him.
According to the FCT minister, Fubara’s decision to obtain the APC nomination form violated the understanding reached during reconciliation talks.
“The governor withdrew and I’m not surprised about it,” Wike said. “But whatever it is, he has withdrawn and somebody has emerged.”
He also described Chinda as a seasoned politician with the experience needed to govern Rivers State, citing his background in both the legislature and executive.
The latest comments further highlight the lingering political battle between Wike and Fubara, whose relationship deteriorated shortly after Fubara assumed office in 2023.
The crisis has led to several attempts by lawmakers loyal to Wike to impeach the governor, deepening divisions within the state’s political structure.
Reports had earlier indicated that President Tinubu brokered a truce in 2025 that allegedly required Fubara to forgo a second-term ambition in exchange for political stability and the withdrawal of impeachment threats.
Fubara later defected to the APC in December 2025, although the party did not organise an official reception for him, fueling speculation about his standing within the party….See More
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