Public policy analyst and political communication strategist Kenny Okolugbo has faulted the political decisions of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara amid the lingering crisis involving the governor and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Speaking during a studio discussion on [Arise News on Friday May 22, 2026, Okolugbo argued that Governor Fubara made a critical political mistake by purchasing the APC governorship nomination form despite what he described as an existing understanding within the political arrangement in Rivers State.
According to him, the governor ought to have recognised the implications of the agreement surrounding the reconciliation efforts within the ruling party and avoided actions capable of reigniting tensions.
He said, “Where I think Fubara got it wrong was: he should never have bought the nomination form, Wike already made it very clear there was an agreement and yet every time an agreement was reached, it looked like he was breaking it.”
The political analyst suggested that the Rivers governor received poor strategic advice from some of his associates throughout the crisis, insisting that the situation could have been handled with greater tact and negotiation.
Okolugbo maintained that Fubara should have pursued political reconciliation rather than direct confrontation with forces loyal to Wike, especially considering the influence the FCT minister retains within Rivers politics.
The comments come amid heightened political tension in Rivers State following Governor Fubara’s withdrawal from the APC governorship primaries ahead of the 2027 elections, a move that has generated mixed reactions across the political landscape…See More
