The political drama in Rivers State has reached a decisive turning point, and at its center is the collapse of Nyesom Wike’s once unquestioned dominance. What began as a godfather-protégé relationship degenerated into an unhealthy quest for total control, leaving institutions weakened, party structures vandalized, and governance held hostage. Today the consequences of that overreach are unfolding in real time.
Wike’s influence did not merely overshadow Governor Siminalayi Fubara; it sought to erase him. From the earliest days of the administration, Wike acted less like a party elder and more like a parallel authority determined to dictate policy appointments and political direction. His intolerance for independence turned Rivers into a battlefield. The objective was clear: if he could not control the governor, he would cripple the government.
In pursuing this path, Wike crossed a dangerous line. His actions were not just aimed at Fubara; they struck at the very heart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). By openly working against his party’s sitting governor, aligning with rival power centers, and encouraging internal sabotage, Wike effectively declared war on the PDP. The party could not survive such internal betrayal without consequence.
That reckoning has now arrived. Wike and his loyalists have been expelled from the PDP not as an act of vendetta but as a necessary cleansing. Their continued presence had become corrosive. For the PDP, this moment represents a painful but essential rebirth. Freed from the grip of one man who treated the party as private property, the PDP now has the opportunity to rebuild as a collective institution rather than a personal empire.
Governor Fubara’s role in this unfolding story is often misunderstood. The PDP gave him political, moral, and institutional backing, but backing alone could not neutralize Wike’s destructive intent. Faced with relentless sabotage and an environment engineered to ensure failure, Fubara made a choice that was less about ambition and more about survival. His move into the APC was the final step in breaking Wike’s stranglehold on Rivers politics.
Today the irony is stark. Fubara has not merely joined the APC; he has effectively taken control of its structure in Rivers State. The party now rallies around him as its leader, altering the balance of power completely. The same man Wike sought to dominate has emerged as the central political figure in the state.
This development raises unavoidable questions about Wike’s future. Will he attempt to follow Fubara into the APC, hoping to recreate the dominance he once enjoyed? Such a move would be fraught with difficulty. The APC, now under Fubara’s leadership in Rivers, is no longer fertile ground for godfatherism. The dynamics have changed, and the leverage Wike once wielded no longer exists.
Alternatively, will Wike continue to struggle for relevance within a PDP that has decisively cut ties with him? That path appears even more uncertain. A party he openly undermined, destabilized, and nearly destroyed is unlikely to offer him refuge. Influence built on intimidation and ownership cannot survive expulsion and loss of structure.
Wike’s fate, therefore, hangs in the balance. He remains a national figure with visibility and connections, but in Rivers State his power base has been hollowed out. Without control of party machinery, state institutions, or security leverage, his influence risks becoming symbolic rather than decisive. Political relevance without local control is a fragile currency.
For Governor Fubara, the road ahead is equally demanding. Taking over the APC places immense expectations on his shoulders. He must now prove that his bold gamble was not merely defensive but transformative. Success will depend on his ability to deliver stability, unify diverse political interests, and translate federal alignment into tangible benefits for Rivers people.
Will Fubara withstand the tide? His advantage lies in timing and positioning. He broke free currently Wike overreached and lost legitimacy. If he governs inclusively and resists the temptation to replicate the very dominance he escaped, he stands a strong chance of consolidating his authority.
Rivers State stands at a crossroads. One era defined by overbearing control and personal ownership of power is fading. Another, still uncertain, is being shaped. Wike’s story now serves as a cautionary tale: power hoarded too tightly eventually collapses under its weight. Fubara’s story, still being written, will be judged by whether he turns a necessary political escape into a lasting renewal for Rivers politics.
