Battle for 2027: Two Governors, Two Godfathers — and a Political War Just Beginning

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, deepening rifts between governors and their political godfathers are throwing key states into turmoil, with Rivers and Kano emerging as major flashpoints.
Governors seeking second terms are increasingly at odds with the influential figures who helped them to power, particularly after aligning with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). While some governors have found new political cover at the centre, their estranged godfathers appear determined to block their re-election ambitions.
In Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara is locked in a fierce political battle with his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. In Kano, Governor Abba Yusuf is facing stiff resistance from his former benefactor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Kwankwaso vs Yusuf: Kano Rift Deepens
Governor Abba Yusuf’s relationship with Rabiu Kwankwaso, the NNPP’s 2023 presidential candidate, has deteriorated following reports of Yusuf’s plan to defect to the APC. Although the governor has yet to formally announce his defection, aides and lawmakers in the Kano State House of Assembly have confirmed his intention to leave the NNPP.
Yusuf’s victory in the 2023 governorship election was largely credited to the Kwankwasiyya Movement led by Kwankwaso. However, that support is now being withdrawn as the governor moves closer to the ruling party.
Sources revealed that several Kwankwaso loyalists currently serving in Yusuf’s administration are preparing to resign. Among them is Mustapha Kwankwaso, the Kano State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, who is expected to vacate his position ahead of the governor’s defection. At least seven other cabinet members loyal to the NNPP leader are also said to be ready to step aside.
Meanwhile, the NNPP has reportedly begun moves to identify a replacement candidate ahead of the 2027 elections.
Wike vs Fubara: Rivers Crisis Escalates
In Rivers State, tensions between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Nyesom Wike have flared repeatedly since the 2023 elections. The latest fallout reportedly stems from Fubara’s alleged alignment with the APC and claims that he reneged on a peace agreement brokered by President Bola Tinubu during the state’s emergency rule.
Although details of the agreement were not made public, reports suggest that Fubara may have pledged not to seek a second term. However, recent political manoeuvres indicate the governor may now be positioning himself for re-election with the backing of influential APC figures.
In response, Wike recently spent over two weeks touring Rivers State’s 23 local government areas, consolidating his political base ahead of 2027. The former governor has openly vowed to prevent Fubara’s re-election, insisting that his own political career could end if Fubara returns for a second term.
Impeachment Threat Looms
The Rivers crisis has further intensified with the initiation of impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, by lawmakers loyal to Wike. The Assembly has accused the governor of gross misconduct, including alleged illegal spending and failure to present the 2026 budget.
Reacting to the development, former Rivers State PDP publicity secretary, Sydney Gbara, dismissed the impeachment move as a distraction. He argued that the 2025 budget was lawfully passed by the National Assembly during the emergency rule and remains valid until its expiration.
According to Gbara, the governor cannot be compelled to re-present a budget already approved and signed into law by the President.
As the countdown to 2027 continues, the growing godfather–godson battles in Rivers and Kano are reshaping political alignments, raising questions about party loyalty, power control, and the future of electoral politics in both states.