Nigeria: Fubara's Withdrawal From Rivers APC Primary Not Surprising - - Wike

By Onuado Cynthia

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said he was not surprised by the decision of Siminalayi Fubara 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 election, stating that the decision was taken out of "conviction and sacrifice for the state to move forward in peace and unity."

The development followed the emergence of Kingsley Chinda, an ally of Wike, as winner of the Rivers APC governorship primary conducted on May 21.

Speaking while inspecting infrastructure projects in Abuja, Wike said Chinda possessed the requisite experience to govern Rivers State, citing his legislative and executive background.

Reacting to Fubara's withdrawal, the FCT minister said, "I'm not surprised that the governor withdrew.

"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," he added.

The political rift between Wike and Fubara has lingered for months, with both camps embroiled in a prolonged power struggle that triggered impeachment moves against the governor by some members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Many lawmakers backing the impeachment plot are believed to be loyal to the former Rivers State governor.

Wike had earlier vowed to resist Fubara's re-election bid, accusing the governor of violating a peace agreement reportedly brokered after the intervention of President Bola Tinubu.

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