There is uneasy calm among the supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in Rivers State, over the purchase of All Progressives Congress (APC) expression of interest and nomination forms for the Governor Siminalayi Fubara ahead of the 2027 elections.

Earlier in the week, there were rumours that Wike, who is the leader of Peopled Democratic Party (PDP), and considered by supporters as political leader of the state, had anointed the member representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, as his preferred candidate for the governorship election.

But in a twist of event, the member representing Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, led stakeholders in the state including the state Commissioner for Education, Hon. Tamunosisi Gogo Jaja, and other members of the Rivers Elders Forum to purchase Governorship Expression of interest and Nomination forms for Governor Fubara.

They said the governor would contest the election as a 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”.

The Forum says it believes that Governor Fubara had done well in the last 3 years and deserved to be reelected on the platform of the APC and also push for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be reelected.

Daily Trust gathered that some prominent elders and political figures in Rivers have stepped up efforts to place Fubara on the ballot, arguing that he has a “popular mandate.”

Speaking after purchasing the forms in Abuja on Thursday, Hon. Abiante framed the development as part of a democratic tradition rather than an extraordinary political maneuver.

He said: “This is not unusual. Democracy requires participation, and this process recurs every four years. What matters is the will of the people, and Rivers people have made their position clear”

He maintained that the initiative did not originate from the governor but was driven by grassroots support across the state.

Drawing a parallel with past political precedents, Hon. Abiante referenced how nomination forms were previously secured Tinubu by political allies, noting that such actions reflect established political culture.

According to him, the funds used to procure the forms were raised through small contributions from supporters, underscoring what he described as a “people-powered” movement.

The delegation suggested that the governor has little room to decline the call.

“He did not send us, but he cannot turn his back on the people. This is a collective decision by Rivers people,” Abiante said.

There are reports that one of the agreements reached with Wike at the expiration of the State of Emergency in Rivers is that the governor would not seek reelection.

However, few months after his return to power, Fubara dumped the PDP for the APC.

The State House of Assembly had launched fresh impeachment proceedings against him but the process was suspended after intervention from the Presidency.

Unlike other governors who dumped their parties for the APC, Fubara has not been formally welcomed into the party.

The ruling party has organised massive reception for other governors who joined its party, with guest such as vice-President Kashim Shettima,chairing the events. (Daily Trust)

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