By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has reportedly settled for former Rivers State Commissioner for Works Alabo Dakorinama George-Kelly as his preferred governorship candidate in Rivers State, a move already reshaping the state’s political calculations ahead of 2027.
May 5, 2026 — Reports indicate that the decision followed a closed-door political meeting in Port Harcourt involving key stakeholders within Wike’s influence network.
The endorsement is widely interpreted as an early succession signal, especially as Rivers remains politically unsettled by the prolonged rift between Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
George-Kelly is not an unfamiliar figure in the Rivers power structure.
A former technocrat and one-time governorship aspirant, he previously finished among leading contenders during the 2022 Peoples Democratic Party primary, giving him both political visibility and administrative credentials.
Beyond the immediate headline, the endorsement points to a deeper struggle over who controls Rivers’ political machinery after 2027.
Analysts say Wike’s move appears less about mere candidate selection and more about preserving influence in a state where loyalty, succession, and survival remain tightly intertwined.
The development confirms that in Rivers politics, the governorship race has effectively begun long before the official campaign season.
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