A former Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Alabo Dakorinama George Kelly, has reportedly been endorsed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as his preferred candidate for the Rivers State governorship.
George is expected to run on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), marking a significant political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to sources who spoke with the media, Wike made the decision after a closed-door meeting with key political stakeholders in Port Harcourt on Monday. The meeting was said to have focused on assessing the state’s political landscape and planning strategies to strengthen influence going into the next election cycle.
The gathering was attended by notable figures, including former militant leaders Asari Dokubo and Ateke Tom, reflecting the level of consultations involved before the endorsement was reached.
George, a veteran politician in Rivers State and former Works Commissioner, is regarded as a close ally within Wike’s political network.
The source added that the move is part of broader efforts by Wike to sustain his political influence in Rivers State despite his current federal appointment.
The development unfolds amid an ongoing political rift in the state between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his former political ally, Nyesom Wike. Since taking office, Fubara has increasingly distanced himself from Wike’s camp, deepening divisions across the state’s political institutions, including the House of Assembly and local government structures.
This rivalry has led to repeated political tensions, shifting alliances, and competing efforts by both sides to control party structures and governance in the state.
