Wike’s alleged move to re-register deregistered party triggers suspicion in Presidency – Report

This move, sources said, is viewed within the Presidency as a strategic Plan B, designed to provide Wike and his loyalists with an alternative political platform should the PDP collapse completely or should internal realignments within the APC become unfavourable.

Fresh details have emerged explaining the apparent decline in the political influence of former Rivers State governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, within Nigeria’s seat of power, the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.

Credible presidency sources disclosed that the once-dominant Abuja power broker is grappling with multiple political setbacks that have combined to weaken his standing at the Villa.

Central to this decline, insiders said, was the carefully planned defection of Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminilayi Joseph Fubara, from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, a development that significantly deflated Wike’s political camp.

Governor Fubara, the Opobo-born politician and former protégé of Wike, made a dramatic political somersault on December 10, 2025, less than 24 hours after a closed-door meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa. Though his formal public declaration alongside supporters is expected in the first quarter of 2026, Fubara has already been recognised as the leader of the APC in Rivers State and issued Registration Card No. 001.

This recognition followed what sources described as a politically manipulated realignment in the Rivers State House of Assembly, where 17 lawmakers were declared for the APC and 10 for the PDP. Earlier, 20 local government council chairmanship positions were also allotted to the APC, leaving just four for opposition parties.

Investigations by The Southern Examiner revealed that, unbeknownst to the FCT Minister, many of his discreet political manoeuvres against President Tinubu and Governor Fubara had been closely monitored and countered by security operatives and influential politicians who were increasingly uncomfortable with Wike’s confrontational style.

Among those reportedly aggrieved by Wike’s political conduct is the Minister of Works and Infrastructure, Chief David Umahi, whose frosty relationship with Wike dates back to their time as governors. Others said to command the confidence of President Tinubu include the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the Presidential Renewed Hope Agenda Committee, Chief Hope Uzodinma.

In their respective roles, particularly through the influence of Governor Uzodinma, these key presidential allies were said to have frustrated Wike’s alleged attempt to stall Governor Fubara’s defection to the APC, a move aimed at rendering the Rivers governor politically stranded.

Sources indicated that Wike’s objective was to undermine Fubara’s second-term ambition and pave the way for his first cousin and Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martins Amaewhule, to succeed him.

Beyond these intrigues, the development that has reportedly placed the FCT Minister under heightened scrutiny at the Presidency is his alleged behind-the-scenes effort to re-register a deregistered political party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Multiple informed sources told The Southern Examiner that Wike is pursuing the revival of the National Democratic Party, NDP, which was deregistered by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, following its poor performance in the 2023 general elections.

This move, sources said, is viewed within the Presidency as a strategic Plan B, designed to provide Wike and his loyalists with an alternative political platform should the PDP collapse completely or should internal realignments within the APC become unfavourable.