In a recent interview with Arise News from 30:18, prominent lawyer and human rights activist Malachy Ugwummadu criticized former Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike for creating a political dynamic that has now backfired on him. Ugwummadu argued that Wike, who played a pivotal role in building Rivers State’s current political structure, is now facing the consequences of his actions.
“Wike cannot complain because he started it, he conceived it, nurtured it, and delivered it in mischief,” Ugwummadu said. According to him, Wike’s strategy of remaining in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while “romanticizing” with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to undermine his own party has come back to haunt him. Ugwummadu believes that this dual allegiance has cost Wike the moral high ground, particularly in the unfolding political battle with his former protégé, Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Ugwummadu pointed out that Fubara, Wike’s former ally, has now turned the tables by shifting the political structure of Rivers State to the Action Peoples Party (APP). This move was seen as a direct challenge to Wike’s dominance, with Fubara using the APP to sweep the October 2024 local government elections, winning 22 out of 23 chairmanship seats.
“The godson, learning perfectly, decided with the entire political structure in Rivers State that this is the time to undermine this political bigot,” Ugwummadu said, referring to Fubara’s calculated effort to assert his own political control. By shifting political capital to the APP, Fubara has successfully contested Wike’s claim of ownership over Rivers State’s political machinery.
According to Ugwummadu, the election results showed that Fubara is not only politically grounded but also enjoys the support of the people of Rivers State. “Yesterday’s results clearly show that Fubara is not just on the ground. The people of Rivers State are also with him,” he added.
The rivalry between Wike and Fubara has intensified in recent months, with Fubara consolidating his power through the local government elections and Wike finding himself in a politically precarious position as he juggles his roles in the PDP and APC. The situation continues to evolve, with Rivers State politics taking on a new dimension as Fubara asserts himself as the new power broker in the state.