Supporters of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike in Rivers State are uneasy about the acquisition of All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination and expression of interest forms for Governor Siminalayi Fubara in advance of the 2027 elections.
Earlier in the week, there were rumours that Wike, the leader of the Peopled Democratic Party (PDP) and regarded by his supporters as the state’s political leader, had declared Hon. Kingsley Chinda, a member of the Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, to be his preferred candidate for governor.
In an unexpected turn of events, however, Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, who represents the Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, led state stakeholders, including Hon. Tamunosisi Gogo Jaja, the state commissioner for education, and other members of the Rivers Elders Forum, in purchasing Governorship Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for Governor Fubara.
In response to the “yearnings and aspiration of Rivers people who want him to continue to lead the state out of the woods and restore sanity to the polity,” they stated that the governor would run for office.
According to the Forum, Governor Fubara has performed well over the past three years and should be reelected on the APC platform. It also advocates for the election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to Daily Trust, some well-known Rivers politicians and elders have increased their efforts to put Fubara on the ballot, claiming that he has a “popular mandate.”
Speaking on Thursday after acquiring the forms in Abuja, Hon. Abiante described the development as a democratic custom rather than a remarkable political ploy.
“This is not unusual,” he declared. Participation is necessary for democracy, and this process is repeated every four years. The people’s will is what counts, and the Rivers people have made their stance known.
He insisted that grassroots support throughout the state was the driving force behind the initiative rather than the governor.
Hon. Abiante cited how political allies had previously obtained nomination forms for Tinubu, drawing a comparison with previous political precedents and pointing out that such actions reflect established political culture.
He claimed that small donations from supporters raised the money needed to purchase the forms, highlighting what he called a “people-powered” movement.
According to the delegation, the governor’s options for turning down the call are limited.
He didn’t send us, but he can’t abandon the people. The Rivers people made this decision as a group, according to Abiante.
According to reports, one of the agreements made with Wike at the end of the Rivers State of Emergency was that the governor would not run for reelection.
But a few months after taking office again, Fubara switched from the PDP to the APC.
The President intervened to halt the State House of Assembly’s new impeachment proceedings against him.
Fubara has not received an official invitation to join the APC, in contrast to other governors who left their parties.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima is among the guests who have been invited to the ruling party’s lavish reception for new governors.
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