Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has declared that his political camp does not require the backing of a sitting governor to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in Rivers state ahead of the 2027 polls.
Speaking on Saturday in Port Harcourt during the inauguration of the headquarters of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Wike said his political structure is strong enough to deliver Rivers for Tinubu without external support.
The former Rivers governor praised Desmond Akawor, coordinator of the group in the state, for what he described as extensive grassroots mobilisation across all local government areas.
“Rivers state is a no-go area, and I say it again — this state is totally for Tinubu,” Wike said, insisting that his supporters have demonstrated their commitment through action rather than rhetoric.
He noted that all 23 local government and zonal coordinators of the group had already been inaugurated, a move he said showed the depth of political organisation backing the president in the state.
Wike also highlighted the commissioning of the group’s secretariat and operational vehicles, describing it as the first of its kind in the region.
“Our commitment is not by mouth or newspaper. We are showing clearly that we are working for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he added.
The FCT minister dismissed the idea that political loyalty requires financial inducement from the candidate, saying true supporters must invest their own resources.
“We don’t need a governor to mobilise for Mr President. We have senators, assembly members, council chairmen, National Assembly members and party leaders from both APC and PDP,” he said.
Wike also took a swipe at unnamed governors he accused of encouraging political betrayal in Rivers, warning that such actions would eventually turn against them.
His comments were widely seen as a veiled reference to Rivers governor Siminalayi Fubara, with whom he has been locked in a prolonged political battle over control of the state. Wike had played a decisive role in Fubara’s emergence as governor.
