Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has endorsed a former Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Alabo Dakorinama George Kelly, as his preferred candidate for the Rivers State governorship.
George is expected to contest the seat currently occupied by Governor Siminalayi Fubara on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state, signaling a crucial political move ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It was learnt that Wike settled for George after a closed-door meeting with key political stakeholders in Port Harcourt on Monday. The meeting reportedly reviewed the political situation in the state and strategies for consolidating influence ahead of the next election cycle.
Ex-militant leaders, including Asari Dokubo and Ateke Tom attended the meeting.
Their attendance reportedly underscored the high-level consultations that preceded the endorsement.
George, a seasoned political figure in Rivers State, previously served as Commissioner for Works and is considered a loyalist within Wike’s political structure.
The source who witnessed the meeting said the development was part of efforts to maintain Wike’s political dominance in the state despite his current role at the federal level.
This comes against the backdrop of a protracted political crisis in Rivers State, driven by a bitter power struggle between Governor Fubara and his estranged political godfather, Wike.
Since assuming office, Fubara has gradually distanced himself from Wike’s influence, leading to deep divisions within the state’s political structure, including the State House of Assembly and local government leadership.
The rift has triggered a series of political confrontations, alignments, and realignments, with both camps battling for control of the party machinery and governance structures in the state.
Efforts by President Bola Tinubu to broker peace between the two camps have so far yielded limited results, as tensions continue to simmer.
According to the source, “Wike’s endorsement of George is a strategic move to reassert control and shape the political future of Rivers State ahead of 2027.”
However, there’s no official yet on Wike’s endorsement of George.
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