By Kingston Magare 28.5.2026
The almost humiliating treatment meted out to Rivers State governor Siminalayi Fubara could cost President Bola Tinubu the State in the 2027 presidential election.
This was the observation of Femi Otubanjo who is the director of research at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs.
Fubara was schemed out of contesting for a second term on the platform of the All Progressives Congress and he subsequently announced that he wouldn’t be running.
Federal Capital Territory minister and former governor of River State, Nyesom Wike told reporters that Fubara had agreed not to seek a second term as part of an agreement to stop his impeachment by Rivers State Lawmakers.
But Otubanjo said preventing Fubara from running could be a self inflicted injury by the APC.
“The treatment of Fubara is one of the biggest surprises in Nigerian politics. Fubara has been badly treated. We now have a situation where Nyesom Wike, who is not even in the APC, is influencing major decisions in the party in Rivers State,” Otubanjo said Thursday on Arise TV Morning Show.
“I hope President Tinubu’s political team is paying attention because this situation is dangerous for him politically.
“What is happening in Rivers State shows that Wike is pursuing his own agenda and not Tinubu’s agenda.
If Wike truly wants to support Tinubu, then he should ensure that Fubara remains politically relevant.”