The political Richter scale in Rivers State has just hit a terminal high.
Following the move by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to secure his re-election form, as he purchased his forms today, the floodgate has been thrown open for those seeking re-election, or freshers seeking first shot at their respective positions.
It is now known to The Neighbourhood Newspaper that the “Political David” of the Niger Delta, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, is reportedly prepared to cross the Rubicon. In a move that promises to send shockwaves from the Brick House to the hallowed chambers of Abuja, Fubara is set to pick up his nomination form under the banner of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
But this is not just a routine filing of papers. It is a declaration of total war against the old guard and a definitive burial of the “godfather” era in Rivers State.
The sole survivor: A coronation, not a contest
In what is being described as a masterstroke of political consolidation, insiders suggest that Fubara will not just run but will dominate. The word within the APC corridors is clear: the gates are locked. There will be no other aspirants. No other contenders. No other names on the ballot.
By positioning himself as the sole governorship candidate for the APC, Fubara has effectively checkmated his detractors. This is not just a nomination, it is a coronation. The message is unmistakable: The APC in Rivers State has found its new heartbeat, and it beats in sync with the man they call “Sim.”
From the trenches to the pedestal
Fubara’s first term has been defined by a survival war that would have broken a lesser man. He has navigated a minefield of legislative ambushes, budget standoffs, and the relentless heat of a political divorce that gripped the nation. He remains the only state governor in Nigeria’s political history since Sir Frederick Lord Lugard amalgamated the Southern and Northern Protectorates to build a Nigeria in 1914, to have survived three impeachment attempts.
Yet, for every punch thrown by the structure, Fubara has countered with the “street.”
His survival is not merely a result of tactical brilliance, it is fueled by a grassroots insurgency. From the vendors in Mile 1 to the professionals in the high-rises of Port Harcourt, the support has been nothing short of fanatical. Rivers people have not just cheered him on, but they have acted as a human shield against political victimisation.
The controversy: A gamble or a masterstroke?
Critics are already sharpening their pens, calling this move a “political heresy.” How does a man who rose on one platform now seek to conquer on another?
The online space is already a battlefield. Opponents claim this supposed sole candidacy is an affront to internal democracy, while supporters argue it is a necessary emergency measure to protect the state from being returned to the era of pocket-governance.
”Fubara isn’t just buying a form; he’s buying independence for every Rivers man and woman,” says one social media influencer in a post already garnering thousands of heated comments. “If the APC is the vehicle to drive us away from the shadows of the past, then let the engine roar.”
The king is dead, long live the king?
As the news of Fubara’s impending move filters through the creeks and the city centres, one thing is certain: the 2027 race in Rivers State is over before it has even begun.
By merging the machinery of the APC with the raw, unfiltered loyalty of the Rivers populace, Fubara has created a political behemoth that looks invincible. The survival wars are transitioning into a victory lap.
The question remains: Can anyone stop a man who has the President’s lead, the Party’s ticket, and the people’s heart?
copied from NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSPAPER
