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

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The support is currently being withdrawn following Yusuf’s decision to quit the NNPP.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

According to insiders, Mustapha Kwankwaso, who is currently serving as Kano State commissioner for youth and sport, will be vacating his office ahead of the governor’s imminent defection.

It was further learnt that at least seven other Kwankwaso’s loyalists will be dumping the governor’s cabinet immediately he joins the ruling party.

This is even as the NNPP was reported to have begun searching for Yusuf’s replacement ahead of the 2027 election.

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.

The former governor vowed that Governor Fubara will not be re-elected, pointing out that his (Wike) political career may end if the governor returns in 2027.

Impeachment plot

Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to the FCT Minister are not waiting till 2027 to remove the governor as they initiated the impeachment of the governor and his deputy Ngozi Odu.

The assembly served the impeachment notice to the governor and his deputy on Thursday, alleging gross misconduct.

They accused the governor of spending Rivers State money illegally, pointing out Fubara’s alleged refusal to present the 2026 budget to the assembly.

However, speaking with DAILY POST, the immediate past publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State, Sydney Gbara, who described the impeachment move as an unnecessary distraction, argued that the 2025 budget was passed by the National Assembly during the emergency rule.

He said, “It’s an unnecessary distraction in the state because when an action is repeatedly taking place with no just reason, you will begin to question the motive behind it.

“One of the key things the assembly members are accusing the governor of, was about the 2025 budget which we all know that the National Assembly passed the budget in June last year during the emergency rule and it was assented by Mr President.

“Every budget has one year life span, meaning that the budget passed by the National Assembly will remain in force until July this year”.

According to him, Governor Fubara cannot represent a budget already passed and assented by the president.