PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria (AP) — The governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in Rivers State, Blessing Fubara, says his political ambition is not tied to any godfather, insisting that his only backing is God. Speaking Friday night on Arise Television’s Prime Time, he dismissed suggestions that his candidacy is an extension of his brother’s political project or that he is acting as a placeholder.
Fubara, whose elder brother Siminalayi Fubara is the current governor of Rivers State, said they hold different political perspectives. “I don’t have a godfather but I have God the father,” he said. “We have different political ideologies and individual perspectives. It’s a trying moment for us in Rivers State and there are all sorts of narratives, but we are focused with our eyes on the ball that the soul of Rivers State must be rescued.”
Blessing Fubara formally entered the 2027 governorship race in May after picking up the NDC’s nomination forms. His announcement came days after Governor Fubara withdrew from the All Progressives Congress primaries, a move that followed months of political turmoil in the state. The younger Fubara’s candidacy is seen as a test of whether he can carve out an independent identity in a political environment often dominated by entrenched networks and godfather figures.
Rivers State has been at the center of a bitter feud between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The conflict has involved impeachment attempts, rival legislative factions and protracted legal battles. Blessing Fubara’s entry adds another dimension to the state’s volatile political landscape, underscoring the high stakes ahead of the 2027 election in one of Nigeria’s most influential oil-producing regions. His campaign is expected to highlight themes of independence, reform and grassroots engagement as Rivers politics continues to draw national and international attention.
