The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said that he has not endorsed any individual for the 2027 governorship election in Rivers State.
Speaking in Abuja during his monthly media chat on Wednesday, Wike said he cannot endorse anyone until the joint coalition involving members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state meets.
“I have not (endorsed anybody) and I cannot endorse somebody until the joint coalition meets,” Wike said during the media chat.
“We have loyalists in PDP, we have loyalists in APC. I have never hidden the fact that everywhere you say rainbow coalition. We have put ourselves together and it is a political strategy because we have somebody we will fight.”
The former Rivers State governor also said that the coalition in the state is not working with Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who is also reportedly eyeing the APC ticket for the 2027 election in the state.
Wike accused the governor of reneging on an agreement reached with members of the Rivers State House of Assembly before President Bola Tinubu, an agreement he said prevented Fubara’s impeachment.
“You know that we and Fubara are not working. So, as politicians, we must strategize, I don’t need to come and unveil our strategy to you.
“The president intervened in the impeachment palava and said ‘hold on, let’s have peace’. And the governor said ‘I am ready for peace, I’m no longer interested in this, I will not do this’.
“The Assembly went and withdrew the impeachment before a president of a country. Now, having withdrawn the impeachment, you are now too smart on what you agreed before the president,” he said.
There has been a prolonged political rift between Wike and Fubara, whom he supported in 2023 to succeed him as governor of Rivers State, over control of political structures in the oil-rich South-South state.
The crisis escalated when lawmakers loyal to the FCT minister—led by Martin Amaewhule—attempted to impeach Fubara.
This development led President Bola Tinubu to suspend Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly in March 2025, following the prolonged political impasse.
Following the suspension, Tinubu appointed and swore in retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as sole administrator of the state.
After six months, however, the President lifted the emergency rule, allowing Fubara, his deputy, and the lawmakers to return.
The lifting of the emergency rule followed a meeting in June between President Tinubu, Fubara, Wike, Amaewhule, and other lawmakers, which led to a reconciliation of the key political actors in the crisis.
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Ogun Targets 24-Hour Power, Begins Consumption Audit
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has announced plans to conduct a comprehensive power audit to determine the state’s actual electricity consumption and improve supply efficiency.
The governor made this known during an unscheduled visit to the 4-megawatt gas-fired Independent Power Plant in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, on Wednesday.
Speaking during the inspection, Abiodun said the audit would enable the government to track how electricity generated from the plant is distributed, while identifying and addressing leakages and energy theft across the system.
He noted that the exercise has become necessary following the state’s expanded authority to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity.
Emphasising the importance of reliable power to economic growth, the governor described electricity as a key driver of industrialisation. He added that the 4-megawatt facility—part of the Ogun State Light-Up Project—would support the state’s ambition to achieve energy self-sufficiency and ensure no community is left underserved.
Abiodun further disclosed that both the 34-megawatt power plant in Onijanganjangan and the 4-megawatt facility in Oke-Mosan are designed for expansion, noting that the state has also upgraded its power distribution infrastructure.
Reiterating his administration’s commitment to sustainable development, he said ongoing efforts in the power sector are geared towards ensuring that residents and businesses enjoy stable electricity supply.
“What you see here behind me is a gas-fired Independent Power Plant currently generating four megawatts. It doesn’t get cleaner than this.
“This installation aligns with our promise to deliver on our commitments. We do not just make promises; we fulfil them without unnecessary noise.
“You cannot compare this with some power plants that have been sitting idle for over 16 years, running on fuel oil. It is unacceptable that, in the 21st century, such outdated systems were procured,” he said.
The governor also revealed that the newly inaugurated Ogun State Electricity Regulatory Commission would oversee electricity generation, transmission, and distribution within the state, adding that ongoing investments are aimed at attracting more investors.
“Currently, Ogun State enjoys several comparative and competitive advantages. However, our ultimate goal is to position the state as the destination where investors are guaranteed 24-hour power supply at the most affordable rates in Nigeria,” he adde
