Tinubu’s Support Not A Guarantee Of Automatic Ticket For 2027, Wike Warns Fubara
FORMER Rivers State governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not guarantee a second-term ticket for Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Wike made the position clear while addressing political stakeholders, stressing that loyalty to the President or alignment with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) should not be mistaken for an automatic endorsement in future elections.
According to him, electoral success remains a product of performance, party structures and the will of the people, not mere political alliances.
The former governor, who remains a dominant political force in Rivers State, emphasised that governance must be people-centred and results-driven if any incumbent hopes to secure re-election. He warned against complacency, noting that political goodwill at the federal level does not override local realities on the ground.
“Supporting the President is not a guarantee that anybody will get a return ticket,” Wike was quoted as saying. “What guarantees a return ticket is performance, acceptance by the people and adherence to party discipline.”
Wike further pointed out that Rivers State politics has always been dynamic and competitive, insisting that no individual should assume entitlement to power. He maintained that the electorate would ultimately decide who governs the state in 2027, not political godfathers or external influence.
The statement is widely seen as part of the ongoing political tension between Wike and Governor Fubara, whose relationship has remained strained since the governor assumed office. While Fubara has publicly pledged loyalty to President Tinubu’s administration, internal divisions within Rivers State’s political structure continue to fuel speculation about his re-election prospects.
Political observers believe Wike’s comments are a strong signal that the 2027 governorship race in Rivers State will be fiercely contested, with no guarantees for incumbents regardless of their alignment with the Presidency.
As the countdown to the next election cycle begins, Wike’s warning underscores a broader message to politicians nationwide: federal backing alone may not be enough to survive the test of the ballot.
