Two prominent Rivers State politicians, Edison Ehie and Boma Iyaye, have denied having any governorship ambitions for 2027, reiterating their loyalty to their political principals.
Ehie, the immediate past Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, addressed a poster circulating online that featured his image alongside that of former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency Director-General Dakuku Peterside, depicting them as gubernatorial aspirant and running mate under the African Democratic Congress. The poster, titled “Rivers Must Be Free From the Hands of One Man,” carried the sub-theme, “We Must Take Back Our Rivers 2027.”
In a statement personally signed on Sunday, Ehie described the poster as “mischievous and desperate,” warning that it was a calculated attempt to mislead the public and sow discord. He said, “My attention has been drawn to a mischievous poster suggesting I am aligned with a so-called agenda to ‘free Rivers from the hands of one man’ with Dr. Dakuku Peterside as Governor and me as Deputy Governor. Let it be stated clearly: this narrative is false and is designed to undermine the unity and stability being strengthened under Governor Siminalayi Fubara. I remain a committed and loyal member of the All Progressives Congress and stand unequivocally with Governor Fubara.”
Similarly, Iyaye, an ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and current Executive Director of Finance and Administration at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), denied rumors of any 2027 governorship ambition or endorsement by Wike. Responding to social media reports, Iyaye clarified, “These reports are inaccurate. My full attention remains on my responsibilities at the NDDC. I have not declared any governorship ambition nor received any endorsement from the Honourable Minister or anyone else. I hold Minister Wike in high regard and appreciate his leadership.”
Iyaye, a former two-time commissioner in Rivers State, urged the public and media to rely on verified information and disregard any contrary claims. The FCT Minister recently confirmed that he has not endorsed any candidate for the next year’s governorship election.
Both statements reinforce the commitment of Fubara and Wike’s allies to their current offices and political alignments, emphasizing stability and unity in the state’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 polls.
