As preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum, political tensions are escalating in Rivers and Kano states, where sitting governors are locked in fierce battles with their former political godfathers.
In both states, the rifts followed the governors’ moves toward alignment with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a decision that has unsettled entrenched political structures and triggered open hostility from their former benefactors.
Kano: Kwankwaso vs Abba Yusuf
In Kano State, Governor Abba Yusuf has reportedly fallen out with his political mentor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), following indications that the governor plans to defect to the APC.
Although Yusuf has not formally announced his defection, aides and members of the Kano State House of Assembly have openly confirmed his intention to leave the NNPP. This development has strained his relationship with Kwankwaso, whose Kwankwasiyya Movement played a decisive role in Yusuf’s victory in the 2023 governorship election.
Sources within the state say support from the Kwankwasiyya political structure is now being withdrawn. Several loyalists of Kwankwaso serving in Yusuf’s administration are reportedly preparing to resign, including the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Kwankwaso.
Insiders also claim that at least seven other commissioners aligned with Kwankwaso may exit the cabinet once Yusuf formally joins the APC. Meanwhile, the NNPP is said to be exploring alternative candidates ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Rivers: Wike vs Fubara
In Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s relationship with his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has further deteriorated.
The two have clashed multiple times since the 2023 elections, but tensions worsened following Fubara’s alignment with the APC and alleged violations of a peace agreement reportedly brokered by President Bola Tinubu during the period of emergency rule in the state.
Though the details of the agreement were never made public, reports suggest that Fubara had agreed not to seek a second term. Recent political maneuvers, however, indicate that the governor may be positioning himself for re-election with the backing of influential APC figures.
In response, Wike recently spent over two weeks touring the 23 local government areas of Rivers State, in what observers describe as an effort to reclaim control of the state’s political structure ahead of 2027. The former governor has openly vowed that Fubara will not return for a second term, warning that his own political relevance may be at stake if that happens.
Impeachment Moves
The rivalry has since spilled into the Rivers State House of Assembly, where lawmakers loyal to Wike have initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.
The Assembly has already served impeachment notices, accusing the governor of gross misconduct, including alleged illegal spending and failure to present the 2026 budget.
Reacting to the development, a former publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Sydney Gbara, described the impeachment move as a distraction.
He argued that the 2025 budget was already passed by the National Assembly during the emergency rule and assented to by the President, noting that budgets run for a one-year lifespan.
According to him, it would be procedurally unnecessary for the governor to present a budget that is already in force.
Outlook
With godfatherism once again shaping political battles in key states, analysts warn that prolonged instability in Rivers and Kano could undermine governance and further complicate the road to the 2027 elections.
