The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared that stability has returned to Rivers State following the intervention of President Bola Tinubu in the political rift between him and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Speaking during a media chat in Abuja on Monday, Wike described the reconciliation process as an exercise in political maturity.
“Leadership is about give and take. You have to be able to swallow certain things. From what I have seen, there is no cause for alarm,” he said, insisting that all necessary steps had been taken in the interest of Rivers State.
PDP Crisis and 2027 Calculations
Turning to national politics, Wike lamented the lingering crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), warning that the party’s internal instability poses significant risks for aspirants seeking to contest elections under its platform.
He questioned the party’s leadership structure, particularly uncertainty over who has the authority to formally communicate candidates’ names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as required by electoral guidelines.
“Taking the risk to run in a party where you do not know who is responsible for submitting your name to INEC is a very big risk,” he said.
Wike reiterated his earlier stance that he would support President Tinubu for a second term, adding that in the recent FCT Area Council elections, he backed only candidates who openly aligned with the President, regardless of party affiliation.
Kingibe’s Future ‘Over’
In a pointed critique of FCT Senator Ireti Kingibe, Wike dismissed her political relevance, arguing that her influence has diminished significantly.
Citing figures from her polling unit during the FCT local government elections, Wike claimed only seven votes were recorded there — with the APC securing three, the PDP two, and the ADC two. He used the result to question her grassroots strength and her criticism of the current administration.
“She said they would use the election to teach me a lesson. But she couldn’t mobilise people in her own polling unit,” Wike stated.
APC Dominance, ADC Under Fire
Wike said the All Progressives Congress (APC) won 45 councillorship seats in the FCT polls, while the PDP secured 17. He described the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as unprepared and ineffective, accusing the party of making “noise on television” without real electoral structure.
He challenged the ADC to test the election results at the tribunal if it believes the process was flawed.
Criticism of Opposition Leaders
The minister also criticised key opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra governor Peter Obi, and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, accusing them of political theatrics ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike questioned Amaechi’s silence during amendments to the Electoral Act under former President Muhammadu Buhari, particularly on the issue of electronic transmission of election results.
On Election Day Presence
Defending his presence at select polling units during the FCT elections, Wike maintained that, as FCT Minister and chief security officer of the territory, he was within his mandate to observe proceedings.
“I was not a candidate. If there are 3,000 polling units and I visited 10, how does that influence the results?” he asked.
With political alignments already shifting ahead of 2027, Wike’s remarks signal continued tensions within the opposition and reaffirm his growing alignment with the ruling APC at the federal level.
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