FCT minister regains control in Rivers State but elders warn his hold on political power is temporary amid local government election shifts
FCT minister regains control in Rivers State but elders caution his grip on political power may be temporary as local government election results shake the state’s power dynamics.
Also read: Amaechi’s Presidential Ambition Declared Dead on Arrival by FCT Minister Wike
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, recently reclaimed significant influence over grassroots politics in Rivers State, a control that Governor Siminalayi Fubara had challenged over the past two years.
The August 30 local government elections revealed a major shift, with the All Progressives Congress winning 20 out of 23 local government areas, while the ruling Peoples Democratic Party secured the remaining three.
Among the LGAs won by the APC are Obio/Akpor, which is linked to the FCT minister, Port Harcourt City, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni.
Notably, Governor Fubara lost his home LGA, Opobo-Nkoro, to the opposition. Despite party differences, winners on both sides are known loyalists of Wike.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar sharply criticized the conduct and outcome of the elections, calling the process an affront to democracy and urging opposition parties to reject the results.
Atiku accused the ruling APC and the current administration of undermining electoral fairness to gain political advantage.
Tensions between Wike and Fubara escalated since late 2024, fueled by power struggles over control of the state legislature and appointments within the administration.
The conflict intensified with incidents such as the bombing of the House of Assembly complex and factional disputes among lawmakers.
President Bola Tinubu later imposed a State of Emergency in Rivers State, suspending the governor and his deputies while appointing Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Administrator.
This move favored Wike’s camp, as most of Ibas’ appointments have aligned with the FCT minister’s loyalists.
High Chief Sunnie Chukumele, a respected elder and convener of the Coalition of Rivers State Leaders of Thought, dismissed the election results, citing a recent Supreme Court judgment that invalidated similar electoral processes by the state commission.
He warned that Wike’s regained power is temporary and described the election as a “charade” unsupported by the people of Rivers State.
Also read: SDP Condemns FCT Allocation of Old Parade Ground to APC
Despite political upheavals, the elections also saw a notable gender-balancing measure, with all 23 local government chairmen-elect being male while their vice-chairmen-elect are female, continuing a precedent set during Wike’s governorship.
