The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says he was not surprised by Siminalayi Fubara’s decision to withdraw from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election in Rivers state.
Fubara had announced his withdrawal from the race a day before the primary, stating that he stepped down out of “conviction and sacrifice for the state to move forward in peace and unity”.
On May 21, Kingsley Chinda, a member of the house of representatives and ally of Wike, emerged winner of the Rivers APC governorship primary election.
Speaking on Monday after inspecting ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja, Wike described Chinda as a qualified candidate with both legislative and executive experience needed to govern Rivers state.
“I’m not surprised that the governor withdrew,” Wike said.
“In the first place, he ought not to have collected the [APC nomination] form because the agreement was reached that impeachment should be dropped, while he should also not talk about a second tenure.”
Fubara and Wike have been involved in a prolonged political crisis that escalated into moves to impeach the Rivers governor.
Most of the lawmakers in the Rivers assembly who supported the impeachment move are known allies of Wike.
The FCT minister had earlier vowed to oppose Fubara’s re-election ambition, accusing the governor of breaching the peace agreement both parties signed following the intervention of President Bola Tinubu.