The All Progressives Congress in Rivers State has dismissed suggestions that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, pressured Governor Siminalayi Fubara into withdrawing from the race for a second term.

Governor Fubara’s administration has faced persistent political tensions, largely stemming from his prolonged rift with Wike and lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly believed to be aligned with the former governor.

Fubara officially announced his withdrawal from the governorship primary in a statement released on Wednesday night titled, “My Decision to Withdraw from the Rivers State Gubernatorial Primaries.”

In the statement, the governor explained that the decision came after wide consultations with family members, political allies, and close associates. He also pledged his full support for whoever eventually emerges as the party’s governorship candidate.

According to Fubara, the move was made in the broader interest of preserving peace, stability, and unity in Rivers State rather than pursuing personal political ambition.

Reacting to the development during an interview on ARISE Television, the Rivers APC Publicity Secretary, Chibuike Ikenga, said the governor’s decision was reached through mutual understanding and with the state’s interests in mind.

Ikenga insisted that neither Wike nor the APC leadership influenced the outcome of discussions surrounding Fubara’s political future.

He described Wike as a major political figure in Rivers State and across Nigeria but maintained that the minister does not determine the internal decisions or direction of the party in the state.