WIKE SHOCKS RIVERS POLITICIANS, HANDS 2027 VOTING POWER TO THE ELDERS

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the political landscape of Rivers State, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has officially declared that he will not be handpicking a successor for the 2027 governorship race. Speaking during a high-stakes consultative meeting at his Life Camp residence in Abuja, Wike insisted that the burden of selecting candidates now rests squarely on the shoulders of the Rivers State Elders Council, led by Chief Ferdinand Alabraba.

The Minister was emphatic that the era of political imposition in the state is over, cautioning aspirants that relying on “anointing” rather than the will of the people and the guidance of the elders is a recipe for failure. While Wike distanced himself from the local succession battle, he was equally vocal about his national loyalty, reaffirming his unwavering commitment to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections. He described his support for the President as a “commitment he has never hidden.”

The meeting itself was a rare display of political synergy, featuring a “coalition” of leaders from both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Wike praised this unity as the group’s greatest asset, while simultaneously taking a swipe at political beneficiaries who have recently turned against his leadership. Characterizing such defections as a “failure of character,” the Minister warned that external forces are desperately working to destabilize this emerging cross-party alliance because they fear its collective influence.

As the political dust settles on this announcement, the focus shifts to the Rivers State House of Assembly and the Elders Council. By deferring to the elders, Wike appears to be rewriting the “godfather” playbook, shifting the tactical responsibility of the 2027 race away from himself while maintaining a united front against his detractors in the state.