PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has questioned the political calculations behind Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike’s reported support for O.K. Chinda’s bid to govern Rivers State in 2027, urging the aspirant to assess the implications of the alliance for his political future.
Eze made the remarks in a statement dated October 12, 2026, which he signed as an ADC chieftain, media consultant and former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP).
He argued that Wike’s reported backing of Chinda raises questions about consistency in the minister’s position on the rotation of political leadership among Rivers State’s ethnic groups.
The ADC chieftain recalled Wike’s reported comments in December 2022, when the minister was said to have questioned the prospects of another Ikwerre person succeeding him as governor after the eight-year administrations of Rotimi Amaechi and Wike, both of Ikwerre extraction.
Eze cited the statement attributed to Wike at the time: “Amaechi finished eight years as governor; I’m going to finish eight years as governor too. It will be difficult to sell another Ikwerre person as governor for another eight years.”
He argued that the reported support for Chinda, who is also of Ikwerre extraction, appeared inconsistent with that earlier position and called on Wike to explain the apparent change in political reasoning.
“Was Wike wrong in 2022, or has his position changed simply because his personal political interests have changed?” Eze asked.
He maintained that ethnic identity should neither automatically qualify nor disqualify an aspirant from contesting for governor, stressing that the selection of a leader should be based on competence, fairness, broad acceptance and the electorate’s decision.
Eze also cautioned against treating the governorship as the preserve of any individual or ethnic nationality, noting that Rivers State comprises several communities, including the Ijaw, Ogoni, Kalabari and Ikwerre peoples.
According to him, the debate over political succession should provide an opportunity for an open discussion about inclusion, equity and the aspirations of the state’s diverse communities.
The statement also revisited the political crisis that led to President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State in March 2025. Eze accused Wike of exercising excessive influence over the state’s political affairs and alleged that the minister’s involvement contributed to the crisis surrounding Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration.
The emergency proclamation suspended the governor, his deputy and members of the state House of Assembly for an initial six-month period. The Federal Government subsequently lifted the emergency rule in September 2025, allowing elected officials to return to office.
Eze criticised the intervention and questioned its implications for democratic accountability, arguing that Rivers residents should be able to determine their political leadership through constitutional processes and credible elections.
He urged voters to examine the records, alliances and public positions of all political actors seeking their support in 2027, rather than allow partisan loyalty or ethnic considerations to override accountability.
The ADC chieftain also questioned the purpose of the Rainbow Coalition, a political alliance associated with Wike, alleging that it could serve the interests of influential political figures rather than provide a platform for a broader development agenda.
He drew comparisons with the political alliance involving the Peoples Democratic Party’s G-5 governors ahead of the 2023 presidential election, arguing that political groups should define their objectives clearly and preserve their independence.
Eze commended the Fubara Support Group for rejecting what he described as a self-serving arrangement and urged political organisations to build alliances around transparent objectives, mutual respect and the interests of their members.
He further called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, political parties and civil society organisations to protect the integrity of the 2027 elections.
He warned against voter intimidation, vote-buying and the misuse of public institutions, insisting that eligible voters must be allowed to make their choices freely.
Turning directly to Chinda, Eze urged the politician to assess the strength of his support among Rivers voters and determine whether his ambition rests on his own political credibility and policy proposals or on the backing of influential political figures.
He cautioned that political endorsements do not guarantee electoral success and said candidates should build broad-based support rather than rely solely on political alliances.
“Hon. Chinda must ask himself some difficult questions. Is his political ambition being advanced on the strength of his own vision, credibility and acceptance among Rivers people, or is he being positioned to serve a larger political interest that may have little to do with his personal future?” Eze said.
He concluded by urging Rivers residents to prioritise credible candidates, democratic participation and accountability as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Eze maintained that the state’s political future should be determined by its electorate rather than by the ambitions of individual political actors or alliances.
