Political tensions in Rivers State escalated on Friday after Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory, warned that his supporters would forcibly gain access to the Yakubu Gowon Stadium if the state government continues to deny them permission to hold political rallies there.
Speaking in Port Harcourt during the inauguration of senatorial and local government coordinators of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, a pro-Tinubu political group, Wike said he would not accept further restrictions on the use of public facilities for political activities.
According to him, his camp had formally applied to use the stadium for a rally but was turned down by the Rivers State Government — a decision he described as unprecedented.
“We applied to use the Yakubu Gowon Stadium and they refused,” Wike said. “If we apply again and they refuse, we will break it, and nothing will happen. Heaven will not fall.”
The minister’s remarks came as he declared that political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections had begun. He said Rivers State was already setting the pace in demonstrating support for President Bola Tinubu, adding that commitment — not rhetoric — determines political reward.
“I told you that by January we would start playing politics. This is January, and we have started,” he said. “If you don’t give us the venue, we will break it.”
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Wike also questioned the position of the Rivers State Government, suggesting that a lack of alignment with Tinubu’s re-election bid could have political consequences.
“You cannot have a governor in the state while we are openly declaring support for President Tinubu and you are not aligning,” he said. “How then do you expect a reward?”
He added that support for the president was not about financial contribution but visible commitment, insisting that political loyalty inevitably attracts benefits.
The event, he said, was part of a broader coalition effort backing Tinubu’s administration. Wike thanked the president for supporting an Ijaw political coalition in producing candidates for the February 21 by-elections in Khana Constituency II and Ahoada West Constituency II, urging supporters to mobilise voters.
Other speakers at the event echoed the message of support for Tinubu. George Sekibo, a senator from Rivers State, praised the president for federal appointments and projects in the state, while Okey Chinda, minority leader of the House of Representatives, endorsed Tinubu’s re-election bid, describing politics as “give and take”.
Leaders of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state also pledged their backing, alongside former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state chairman Felix Obuah.
The rally ended with the presentation of new buses to the Renewed Hope Ambassadors to aid political mobilisation. Coordinators of the group in Rivers State include Felix Obuah, Boma Iyaye and Marcus Nleji.
