The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has made a striking declaration that effectively redraws the political battle lines in Rivers State. During a visit to Etche Local Government Area, he asserted that traditional party distinctions between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are now irrelevant, framing total support for President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda as the state’s singular political objective.
This statement is far more than routine political rhetoric; it represents a significant tactical shift in Nigeria’s complex political landscape. Wike, a former PDP governor and a central figure in the party’s internal crises, is now orchestrating a cross-party mobilization for a sitting APC president. His visit to Etche, organized by the local council, served as a platform to launch this new, party-agnostic political framework, signaling that the era of rigid partisan loyalty in Rivers has been suspended in favor of a unified front for Tinubu.
“There is no APC or PDP in Rivers. What we have is Renewed Hope, and everybody must work together to deliver the President,” Wike declared. This move can be interpreted through several lenses: as a fulfillment of a political agreement following the 2023 elections, as a strategic consolidation of power by aligning directly with the center, or as an attempt to build a pan-Rivers political machine that transcends federal-level party affiliations. The practical implication is a directive for all political actors, regardless of their party registration, to subordinate their machinery to the goal of re-electing President Tinubu.
Wike framed his visit as an act of gratitude, a core principle he linked directly to sustainable governance. “I came to thank you for the support you have given us over the years. God detests ungratefulness. Anyone who is not grateful for the good done to him or her will eventually go down,” he stated. This emphasis on reciprocity is a powerful tool in Nigerian politics, used to reinforce patron-client relationships and justify continued alliance. It subtly reminds the audience of past support received and implies a duty to reciprocate by backing his current political direction.
He was unequivocal about the state’s alignment, stating, “As far as the state is concerned, we have chosen President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Agreement is agreement, and when you enter into an agreement, you must keep to it.” The word “agreement” is loaded, hinting at the behind-the-scenes negotiations that likely defined the post-2023 political settlement in Rivers State, which saw Wike and his allies gain federal positions despite not belonging to the president’s party. This declaration puts public pressure on all local stakeholders to honor that perceived covenant.
The minister’s call for unity is a direct operational command. By urging leaders and residents to work collectively and announcing that active political mobilisation would commence in January, he is setting the calendar and the tone for the next electoral cycle. His specific instruction for traditional rulers and community stakeholders to support the local government chairman as the “coordinator of grassroots political activities” is a key insight. It reveals a strategy to use the formal structure of local government—which his faction controls—as the primary vehicle for this cross-party presidential campaign, effectively bypassing or co-opting the state-level party apparatuses.
In response, the Chairman of Etche Local Government Area, Chima Njoku, provided the expected local endorsement, assuring Wike of the people’s “unwavering support” and readiness to “work tirelessly” for Tinubu’s victory. This exchange exemplifies the top-down mobilization model, where a federal figure sets the agenda and local administrators pledge to execute it, demonstrating the cohesion within Wike’s political structure.
Context and Implications: This event cannot be viewed in isolation. It follows a period of intense political conflict in Rivers State between Wike’s camp and the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara. Wike’s “no party” stance for presidential politics strategically isolates the state governor if the latter remains committed to the PDP. It is a move to consolidate a direct pipeline of support and patronage from the federal center to Wike’s grassroots base, independent of the state government. The success of this strategy could redefine political loyalty in the Niger Delta, making support for the federal might more consequential than ideological or partisan alignment at the state level.