The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has dismissed insinuations that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesome Wike, influenced Governor Siminalayi Fubara to drop his second-term ambition.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that Fubara’s tenure as Governor of Rivers State has been fraught with challenges, particularly due to his conflict with Wike and with members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to the FCT Minister.
Fubara announced his withdrawal in a statement personally signed by him on Wednesday night and titled, “My Decision to Withdraw from the Rivers State Gubernatorial Primaries.”
The Governor said his decision followed extensive consultations with family members, friends and political associates, adding that he would fully support whoever emerges as the party’s governorship candidate.
Fubara explained that his decision was driven by the need to prioritise peace, stability and unity in Rivers State above personal ambition.
Speaking on the development, the APC Publicity Secretary in Rivers State, Chibuike Ikenga, in an interview on ARISE Television, said Fubara’s decision was based on agreement and in the interest of the state.
Ikenga maintained that neither Wike nor its members played any part in the party’s decision regarding the Governor’s ambition.
He said, “Though Wike is a very serious colossus in Rivers State and Nigeria at large, he doesn’t influence what happens in Rivers State.
“We the members of APC discussed and took our decision solely on an agreement we had to chart another course, that is why the governor took that step for the interest of peace and progress of the state.”