Rivers, Kano in political turmoil as Kwankwaso, Wike battle govs

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, some state governors seeking re-elections are currently facing hurdles after falling out with their political godfathers.

While some of the governors, especially in the opposition parties found shelter in the All Progressives Congress, APC-led federal government ahead of 2027, their godfathers were left behind.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and his Kano State counterpart, Abba Yusuf, fell out with their political godfathers following their decisions to join APC.

The face-off is posing a threat to their re-election bid as the godfathers vowed to remain a stumbling block.

DAILY POST reports that while Governor Fubara is locked in rivalry with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Governor Abba Yusuf is in battle with his estranged godfather, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who is the leader of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP.

Kwankwaso vs Yusuf

Governor Abba Yusuf and Rabiu Kwankwaso, the 2023 presidential candidate of the NNPP recently fell out over the governor’s decision to join the ruling party.

DAILY POST reports that although the governor has yet to make a public declaration about his defection, his aides and members of the State House of Assembly have confirmed his plans to leave the NNPP for APC.

Governor Yusuf obviously won the 2023 gubernatorial election due to the overwhelming support from the Kwankwassiyya Movement-led by the NNPP leader himself.

The support is currently being withdrawn following Yusuf’s decision to quit the NNPP.

DAILY POST gathered at the weekend that several loyalists of the NNPP leader who are currently serving under Governor Yusuf are set to resign.

Wike vs Fubara

Since the 2023 general election, Rivers Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has fallen out with his predecessor Nyesom Wike for at least three times.

The latest feud between the duo was birthed by the governor’s move to align with the ruling party and his alleged decision to renege on a reported agreement facilitated between them by President Bola Tinubu during the State of Emergency in Rivers.

Although the agreement was not made public, reports indicate that the governor signed an agreement during the peace deal not to run for a second term.

However, since his defection to the ruling party, there have been moves suggesting the governor’s readiness to be re-elected, having the backing of top APC leaders.

Meanwhile, Wike was in Rivers State for 17 days touring the 23 Local Government Areas of the state in a bid to recapture the state’s political structure ahead of 2027.