Fresh cracks have widened within the political establishment in Rivers State as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, is said to have endorsed a slate of candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections, in what observers interpret as a decisive move to reassert control over the state’s political structure.
Multiple party sources disclosed that Wike has thrown his weight behind the member representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, Kingsley Chinda, as the preferred governorship candidate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Chinda, a ranking lawmaker and prominent voice within the PDP caucus in the House of Representatives, is reportedly set to obtain his nomination form imminently.
The endorsement is particularly significant given Chinda’s stance during the recent wave of defections that hit the PDP, as he remained within the party while several colleagues aligned elsewhere. His positioning, insiders say, reflects both loyalty to the party and alignment with Wike’s political bloc.
In the same vein, the former Rivers governor is also said to have endorsed former PDP state chairman, Felix Obuah, alongside former National Assembly members Olaka Nwogu and Allwell Onyesoh for senatorial contests across the state. Two of the candidates will run under the APC
Sources within the circle also disclosed that a young candidate has been endorsed to replace Hon. Chinda in the House of Representatives.
It is not yet clear if the members of the state House of Assembly who defected to the APC will defect back to the PDP to enhance their chances of returning as lawmakers in 2027.
The development underscores an intensifying rift between Wike and his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, whose administration has in recent months faced mounting political pressure from factions loyal to the FCT minister.
Though both men emerged from the same political structure, their relationship has deteriorated amid disagreements over control of party machinery, governance style, and the broader political direction of Rivers State. The latest endorsements are widely viewed as Wike’s clearest signal yet that he is charting an independent course ahead of 2027.
Sources within the PDP suggest that the move effectively formalises a parallel power structure, with Wike consolidating influence through loyalists positioned for key elective offices. “This is beyond consultation; it is a declaration,” a senior party figure said, noting that the endorsements could trigger a fresh round of alignments and counter-alignments within the state.
Analysts say the choice of Chinda is strategic. As a federal lawmaker with deep roots in Obio/Akpor, Wike’s political stronghold, his candidacy could help retain grassroots support while appealing to the legislative bloc within the PDP. Similarly, the senatorial endorsements reflect a blend of experience and longstanding loyalty to Wike’s camp.
However, the development raises questions about the cohesion of the PDP in Rivers, a state long regarded as one of its strongest bastions. With competing centres of authority emerging, the likelihood of internal contests, parallel congresses, or even defections cannot be ruled out.
While official declarations are yet to be made, the endorsements have already altered the political calculations ahead of the next election cycle. For Governor Fubara, the challenge will be to consolidate his own base and assert control over party structures. For Wike, the move appears aimed at sustaining relevance and influence in Rivers politics despite his current role at the federal level.
As the 2027 race gradually takes shape, Rivers State once again appears set for a high-stakes political contest, with the PDP’s internal dynamics likely to play a decisive role in determining its outcome.
