The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared that what he described as the mistakes of the 2023 general elections in Rivers State will not be repeated in 2027, signalling a renewed political push amid growing tensions with the state’s governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

Wike made the remarks on Tuesday during separate visits to Akuku-Toru and Degema Local Government Areas, where he addressed supporters and political stakeholders. According to him, the next general election cycle will mark a decisive shift in political alignment and strategy in Rivers State.

The minister said the lesson from 2023 was clear and insisted that future decisions would be guided by a more deliberate assessment of interests and outcomes. According to Wike, admitting mistakes is a necessary step before meaningful correction can take place.

A rare admission and a warning

Speaking during the visit, Wike stressed that acknowledging political miscalculations was not a sign of weakness but of responsibility. He said leaders must be willing to tell the truth about past choices if they intend to chart a better path forward.

“As for Rivers State, let me make it clear. What’s important in life is that you make a mistake and come out to tell people, ‘I made a mistake, and therefore I want to correct the mistakes we made,’” he said.

Wike added that the voting pattern and political decisions taken in the state during the 2023 elections would not be repeated. “The mistake we made in 2023 will not be repeated. Where we voted in the state is not where we will vote again in 2027,” he told the gathering.

Although he did not name specific individuals or parties, the comment was widely interpreted by political observers as a direct reference to the internal realignments that shaped Rivers politics during the last election cycle.

Background to the Rivers political rift

The statement comes against the backdrop of a prolonged political standoff between Wike and his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The two were once close allies, with Fubara emerging as governor in 2023 after Wike completed his second term as Rivers State governor.

However, relations between the pair deteriorated months after Fubara assumed office, leading to a bitter struggle for control of the state’s political structure, including the House of Assembly and local party machinery.

According to reports, the rift has split the state legislature into rival factions and drawn in national party leaders, turning Rivers into one of the most politically volatile states in the country since the end of the 2023 elections.

Wike’s latest comments suggest that the unresolved conflict is now feeding directly into early calculations for 2027.

Support for Tinubu amid party tensions

Meanwhile, Wike used the same platform to reaffirm his loyalty to President Bola Tinubu, declaring what he described as total support for the administration. This position has further complicated his relationship with some leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, despite his current role as a minister in a Tinubu-led government.

Wike, a prominent figure in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, openly backed Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election, a move that drew criticism from within his party and contributed to internal divisions.

Political analysts say his continued public endorsement of Tinubu underscores a strategy that prioritises influence at the centre over strict party loyalty, especially as the next election cycle approaches.

According to Abuja-based political analyst Hadiza Bello, Wike’s posture reflects a broader trend in Nigerian politics. “What we are seeing is the consolidation of personal political networks that cut across party lines. Wike is signalling that Rivers State will not be left out of national power calculations in 2027,” she said.

Why the declaration matters now

Although the 2027 elections are still more than a year away, Wike’s remarks are significant because they suggest that political mobilisation has already begun in earnest. Early statements of intent often shape alliances, defections, and funding flows long before formal campaigns start.

By framing 2023 as a mistake, Wike is also rewriting the political narrative around Rivers State’s recent history. That framing may influence how voters, party leaders, and national power brokers interpret the events that led to the current crisis.

For supporters, the comment is a rallying cry. For opponents, it is a warning that Wike remains an active and determined force in the state’s politics, despite no longer being governor.

Implications for Rivers State

The renewed rhetoric raises questions about governance and stability in Rivers State over the coming months. Prolonged political battles often have consequences for legislative productivity, budget implementation, and public confidence in institutions.

Civil society groups have repeatedly urged political leaders in the state to de-escalate tensions and focus on development. According to the Port Harcourt-based Centre for Democratic Accountability, sustained political conflict risks distracting from pressing issues such as infrastructure, employment, and security.

Wike’s statement could either intensify the standoff or force a realignment that clarifies power relations ahead of 2027.

What to watch next

Observers will be watching closely for how Governor Fubara and his allies respond, if at all, to Wike’s remarks. Any counter-statements or strategic moves within the Rivers State House of Assembly could offer clues about the next phase of the conflict.

Attention will also be on whether Wike’s declaration leads to visible shifts in grassroots mobilisation, especially in riverine local government areas such as Akuku-Toru and Degema, where he made the remarks.

At the national level, the reaction of APC leaders to Wike’s continued support for Tinubu may shape broader coalition-building ahead of the next general elections.

Editors could consider pairing this report with archival images from the Akuku-Toru and Degema visits, a political map of Rivers State highlighting key local government areas, or a timeline graphic outlining major events in the Wike Fubara political fallout since 2023.

Nyesom Wike’s vow that Rivers State will not repeat the political choices of the 2023 elections marks an early and pointed intervention in the race toward 2027. Set against a backdrop of unresolved tensions with Governor Siminalayi Fubara and shifting national alliances, the statement underscores how far-reaching the consequences of the last election cycle remain. Whether it leads to reconciliation, escalation, or realignment will shape Rivers State politics in the months ahead.