Nyesom Wike Dares Tinubu In Rivers State, Picks Fubara’s Successor

Nyesom Wike Dares Tinubu In Rivers State

OpenLife Nigeria reports that despite the open support for the 2027 re election of President Tinubu by the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, a battle line on the Rivers 2027 governorship ticket has been drawn.

While President Tinubu is solidly behind the 2027 re-elction of governor Siminalayi Fubara, Wike, on the other hand, has a different plan.

The battle however arose from the internal crises bedeviling Rivers politics in which case President Tinubu is disposed to governor Similaryi Fubara’s re election. But to Nyesom Wike, this is a presidential audacity taken too far.

How the problem started

On Monday, December 22, 2025, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, arrived at the Government House in Port Harcourt on a visit to Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

Accompanying the NSA were the Minister of Works, Engineer David Umahi, and his counterpart at the Environment Ministry, Balarabe Lawal.

On the surface, they arrived in the oil-rich state to begin a high-level inspection of key sites.
But beneath the inspection was what, political analysts called “solidarity for the governor Fubara” as a mark of federal government backing of the governor’s administration.

Nyesom Wike Infuriated

Irked by the visit by the Abuja delegation, Nyesom Wike, on Saturday, December 27 told his supporters to brace up for politicking.

The former Rivers State governor made remarks while briefing Rivers stakeholders and supporters in Ahoada East, shortly after the annual thanksgiving of former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and South-South Development Commission chieftain, Chibudom Nwuche. Wike declared that he and his political allies would “resume full politics” by January 2026.

He questioned the sudden enthusiasm of some political actors now chanting the pro-President Bola Tinubu slogan, “On your mandate we stand,” asking where such voices were during the difficult moments of the 2023 general election.

Assuring his supporters that there was no cause for alarm, Wike urged them to remain resolute and steadfast.

“By January 2026, we will start politics. You know me; I believe that an agreement is an agreement. If there is something you cannot do, do not say it. Nobody can use us to say yes today and turn around tomorrow,” he said.

“Whatever you agree to in the morning, you must stand by it in the night. So, do not worry about people who are now shouting ‘on your mandate we stand.’ If we did not shout it then, will they shout it now? We have never wavered in our support for President Bola Tinubu,” Wike added.

Picks Fubara’s Successor

Embarking on statewide tour, Nyesom Wike told his supporters that governor Fubara will not be reelected in 2027.

To replace Fubara, credible information points at Boma Iyaye as Wike’s governorship choice in 2027.

Born September 24, 1969, Boma Iyaye is a Rivers State accountant, politician and a former Commissioner of Sports.

Education

He was educated at State School II Port Harcourt between 1974 and 1980. He attended Baptist High School for his secondary education from 1981 to 1986.

 

A year later, he enrolled at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology and studied Accountancy. He thereafter completed the one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps program.

Career

Iyaye began his career in the private sector as an accountant. He worked with several multinational companies between 1992 and 2003. Later he entered into politics and successfully ran for a seat in the Rivers State House of Assembly, where he served until 2007 representing Ogu–Bolo.

He was the Chairman of the House Committee on Sports as well as member of other sub-committees at the Assembly.

In December 2015, he was inducted into the Wike Executive Council as the Commissioner of Sports. Iyaye had previously served in the same office from 4 April 2008 to 4 June 2009, and again from July 2009 to June 2011.

On 28 December, 2021, the honourable commissioner was installed as the chief of Chiri War Canoe House of Loko Group of Houses in Ogu Kingdom of Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State.