PORT HARCOURT – The political feud in Rivers State has taken a volatile turn as FCT Minister Nyesom Wike threatened to “break into” the Yakubu Gowon Stadium by force if the state government continues to block his camp from holding political rallies.
Addressing supporters on Friday, January 30, 2026, at the inauguration of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Wike accused the Siminalayi Fubara administration of denying his group’s application to use the facility.
“Next time, if we apply and they refuse again, we will break it and nothing will happen,” Wike declared. “Heaven will not fall. Even if heaven falls, everywhere will still be at peace.”
The Minister further directed his coordinators to file a new application for upcoming ward-level inaugurations, vowing that they would “do the needful” and “take it by force” if met with further resistance.
End of the ‘Political Vacation’
Wike’s comments signal the end of what he called a “political vacation” in Rivers, marking a transition toward full-scale 2027 election campaigning. He challenged Governor Fubara’s loyalty to President Bola Tinubu, questioning why the state government would hinder groups openly declaring support for the President’s second-term bid.
The threat adds a dangerous layer to the ongoing Fubara-Wike standoff, which saw pro-Wike lawmakers initiate a third attempt to impeach the Governor earlier this month.
Irony of the ‘Stadium Gate’
Political observers have been quick to point out the irony in Wike’s outburst. During the 2023 election cycle, then-Governor Wike famously sealed the same stadium and revoked approvals for opponents, including PDP’s Atiku Abubakar and APC’s Tonye Cole, citing “security concerns” and “potential damage to the turf.”
The Rivers State Government has yet to issue a formal response to the threat, but security experts warn that the Minister’s directive to “break into” state property could trigger violent confrontations between supporters of the two camps.
Will Governor Fubara grant the next stadium application to douse the tension, or is Rivers State heading toward a “forceful” political showdown at the stadium gates?
