₦airaland Forum

Tinubu, Wike Reject Fubara’s Bid, Pick Ex-Minority Leader Chinda for Rivers Gov

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara’s re-election bid on the platform of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has collapsed, THEWILL can authoritatively report, after failing to get the support of President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, his political godfather.

Both Fubara and Wike have been struggling for supremacy and control of the APC machinery in the oil-rich State ahead of the 2027 general poll.

An authoritative party source, who asked to remain anonymous, told THEWILL that the President directed the National Chairman of the APC, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda to give Wike full control of the party’s structure in Rivers State and approve all his nominees as candidates of the party in the next election. “Wike has nominated Kingsley Chinda, who currently represents Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives as his preferred choice for the APC’s governorship ticket.”

Fubara had unsuccessfully sought the president’s support. “The President said he should go and talk to Wike about it. If Wike agrees then he has his full support. As you already know, Wike has repeatedly said Fubara will not get a second term. So we will not give him the ticket to our party,” the source said.

THEWILL reports that Chinda was until last week a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and served as Minority Leader in the House. He was cleared by the APC screening panel last week to run in the governorship primary.

Out of the 31 incumbent governors on the platform of the APC, 13 first-term Governors are seeking a second term in office in the 2027 election. They have no opposition. In some states like Lagos, President Bola Tinubu’s home state, and Borno, Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s state, the party has chosen its governorship candidates through consensus. In states like Ogun and Nasarawa where the outgoing governors have got stakeholders to endorse preferred candidates, primaries are being held by the party in deference to aspirants opposed to the consensus mode of choosing its candidates.

Yet, none of the 31 states governed by the party has the challenge facing Rivers State where the polity has been polarised by a prolonged rift between Fubara and Wike, who has decided, with the subtle support of the APC and President Tinubu, that the governor will not get a second term.

Their prolonged battle entered its crucial and final stage with the ongoing party primaries which began yesterday, Saturday, May 16, 2026, with the conduct of the primaries for the House of Representatives aspirants who would contest the available 13 seats on the platform of the APC. In his first round, Fubara lost to Wike.

As announced the previous day by the state APC Publicity Secretary, Chibike Ikenga, in a statement titled, ‘Final List of Aspirants for the House of Representatives Primary Election for Saturday, 16th May, 2026’, the list of cleared and disqualified aspirants showed that the outcome of the exercise was foretold.

SOURCE

Fubara should go and rest he has tried, but unfortunately he started what he couldn't finish, you picked up a fight with your superior, what do you expect? You should have played low key, and waited till second term.

The ever wickedest Nyesom wike,the man who doesn't run from a fight.

I wonder how Obi will manage to defeat a wicked combo of Tinubu+ a political tactician like wike.

By the way not a fan of tinubu but it would take a miracle to defeat them.

Make the President and Minister stay in Power forever. ...

Yeyenatu Politicians......

Ambode style introduced.....

So Tinubu and Wike will make the choice for over 3million Rivers people,this is comical and the circle of mediocrity and bad governance continues. Nigerians have been taken for granted far too long!
This country is a huge joke,all I see is criminal capture of state.

AustineE1:
So Tinubu and Wike will make the choice for over 3million Rivers people,this is comical and the circle of mediocrity and bad governance continues. Nigerians have been taken for granted for too long!
This country is a huge joke,all I see is criminal capture of state.

Afi “DEMOCRACY”! They made the decision in 2023 abi? DID RIVERS STATE DEFEND THEIR VOTES? Like Edo state and whole of SS and 75% of SE?😂😂😂😂

Yet they say “GO AND GET YOUR PVC”!

Wike is working!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

Very any how

Rotimi Amechi
Nyesome Wike

Now an anointed candidate from the same part of Rivers state

Interesting times ahead for Rivers people


Let's keep watching

LordBiden:
The ever wickedest Nyesom wike,the man who doesn't run from a fight.

I wonder how Nigerians will manage to defeat a wicked combo of Tinubu+ a political tactician like wike.

By the way not a fan of tinubu but it would take a miracle to defeat them.

Corrected. Where is Tonye Cole the gentleman in all of this?

Fubara na gentle man.

Everything time has an expiring date

Did Wike's son win the Obio/Akpor primaries? That means Fubara will be the only APC governor with a challenger at the primaries.

If this is true, then I really pity Fubara.


He joined the APC hoping for protection, only to be stripped naked and laid bare.
I’ve never seen a governor disrespected like this since the beginning of the Fourth Republic.

Ofunaofu:
If this is true, then I really pity Fubara.


He joined the APC hoping for protection, only to be stripped naked and laid bare.
I’ve never seen a governor disrespected like this since the beginning of the Fourth Republic.

Tinubu rewards loyalty, not competence.

He always punish disloyalty, look at Desmond Elliot now

neutralmind:
Rotimi Amechi
Nyesome Wike

Now an anointed candidate from the same part of Rivers state

Interesting times ahead for Rivers people


Let's keep watching

Another Ikwerre man, e no make sense at all.

Obidients will vote for FUBARA in APC governorship election primary, if you want to be unfortunate in politics. seek for Obidients support

Which one be his "Political godfather"?? Make wike jst go thankGod say the fed govt they give am full support unlike Amaechi that never had the fed govt full support. Make we dey see..until election day. Whether na APC or NDC go carry rivers state. Wike hates competition....Always going against his opponents even before election.

sweerychick:
Fubara should go and rest he has tried, but unfortunately he started what he couldn't finish, you picked up a fight with your superior, what do you expect? You should have played low key, and waited till second term.

You just read the post and it reads Tinubu and Wike.

The fight was technically Tinubu versus Fubara

Not

Wike versus Fubara.



The worst of Buhari, a Military General was never this bad in terms of impunity, disregard for rules, destruction of democratic tenets, electioneering corruption and banditry.

Is it only Ikwere people that are in Rivers state?

Rotimi Amaechi. Ikwere
Nyesom Wike. Ikwere
Kindlgsley Chinda. Ikwere

sweerychick:
Fubara should go and rest he has tried, but unfortunately he started what he couldn't finish, you picked up a fight with your superior, what do you expect? You should have played low key, and waited till second term.

he should be giving 30% of Rivers state allocation to wike every month Abi?

We shall be here to laugh out loud.

I know wike will settle for his fellow ikwerre man as a governor He can't try ijaw or any person in riverine communities. It is too risky

Fubara rebel against him in his first year In office. So he won't repeat that mistake again.

WhizdomXX:
Corrected. Where is Tonye Cole the gentleman in all of this?

who is tonye Cole when it comes to Rivers State matter ?

If he knows what is good for him, he better leaves Apc and tries his popularity in another party. Even at that, it is a waste of time.

Wike is the undisputed godfather of rivers state. He controls everything!

Gotocourt:
Fubara na gentle man.

Being gentle has no bearing here. Fubara is naive.
I don't know who sold him that scam song 'on your mandate we stand', would automatically make Tinubu to back him. He doesn't understand how the mafia world works. Wike is an asset to Tinubu while Fubara is a liability.

Fubara's best option was to avoid parties like APC and PDP that Wike and Tinubu can easily influence. But his naivety will cost him.
He can't change party now, so he should prepare bucket to collect his own tears cos Wiked and Tinubu have already reached on an agreement.

yarimo:
Obidients will vote for FUBARA in APC governorship election primary, if you want to unfortunate in politics. seek for Obidients support

After they have successfully pushed Fubara to his doom, they’re now crying foul and calling Nigeria a joke.

E remain that their overnight messiah that they intend to foist on Nigeria through bullying & propaganda. We will patiently wait to see the outcome.

This isnt democracy....this is no different from coup de'tat

sweerychick:
Fubara should go and rest he has tried, but unfortunately he started what he couldn't finish, you picked up a fight with your superior, what do you expect? You should have played low key, and waited till second term.

So, the wants of the people don't matter anymore?

fergie001:
Tinubu, Wike Reject Fubara’s Bid, Pick Ex-Minority Leader Chinda for Rivers Gov

SOURCE

But do you think Rivers people would vote another Ikwerre man as governor, they should be ready to rig what they have never done before, if na that one Wike has missed it, what happened to other tribes in the state?

Fubara should have decamped to another party. He could have won. The people of Rivers would have revolted against Tinubu and Wike. Chinda will never rule Rivers State.

LordBiden:
The ever wickedest Nyesom wike,the man who doesn't run from a fight.

I wonder how Obi will manage to defeat a wicked combo of Tinubu+ a political tactician like wike.

By the way not a fan of tinubu but it would take a miracle to defeat them.

You said it all. His emergency lovers (they know themselves) should come out and flex their muzzle.

You don't fight your superior and benefactor. It's tantamount to biting the finger that fed you, and the consequences are, always, fire.

They actually pushed him and were excited that he spited his benefactor. I hope he will invite them now to support him to force himself in.

yarimo:
Obidients will vote for FUBARA in APC governorship election primary, if you want to unfortunate in politics. seek for Obidients support

Everyone saw this coming but Fubara.