I Will be buried politically if Fubara wins Second Term — Wike

Nyesom Wike, Nigeria’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former Rivers State governor, has intensified the ongoing political feud with his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, by declaring that allowing Fubara a second term in 2027 would amount to “political burial” for himself and his allies.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Okrika Local Government Area on Saturday, Wike stated: “We have made a decision as far as Tinubu is concerned. The other one [Fubara] — no way. Because if we make another mistake, then we will go and bury ourselves politically. I will not allow myself to be buried. I will not allow that mistake again. So everybody should know we have made a decision.

The remarks come amid a protracted crisis that has seen defections, accusations of breached peace deals, and shifting alliances ahead of the 2027 elections.

During the same event, the Rivers Ijaw People’s Congress, a key ethnic group, withdrew support from Fubara and pledged loyalty to Wike, citing his contributions to Ijaw communities

Wike’s comments echo similar statements made in recent “thank you” visits across local government areas, where he has accused Fubara of poor leadership, failure to honoUr agreements brokered by President Bola Tinubu, and inability to maintain relationships with key stakeholders.

The feud traces back to 2023, when Wike, then governor, backed Fubara’s election but later fell out over control of the state’s political structure.

The crisis escalated to a federal state of emergency in 2025, with multiple Tinubu-mediated peace efforts.

Fubara, who defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) late last year, has positioned himself for potential re-election support from the presidency, though Wike remains influential despite staying in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).