A media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka, has said that former Rivers State governor still firmly controls the political structure of the state, describing Governor Siminalayi Fubara as politically weak and lacking grip on power.

Olayinka, who spoke on Morning Brief, a Channels Television programme on Wednesday, said Wike maintains control of key political institutions in Rivers, including the House of Assembly and local government structures.

According to him, the inability of Governor Fubara to assert authority over the state legislature exposes his political frailty.

“If someone is a minister in Abuja and yet controls your House of Assembly while you are the sitting governor, then something is fundamentally wrong,” Olayinka said.

He added that the balance of power in the Rivers State House of Assembly favours Wike, noting that 27 lawmakers are loyal to the former governor, while only three members reportedly align with Fubara and no longer participate in legislative sittings.

“When you have only three lawmakers and the other person has 27, it means he controls the Assembly. At that point, you should accept political reality,” he said.

Olayinka insisted that Wike’s dominance of Rivers politics means Fubara must seek reconciliation rather than mobilise public sympathy.

“If Wike controls the political structure and you are the governor, then you should go and beg. Politics is about strength and structure,” he said.

Reacting to allegations that Wike is sponsoring impeachment proceedings against Fubara, Olayinka dismissed the claims, arguing that the governor’s predicament is the result of poor political navigation.

“Wike is not behind any impeachment. If the governor does not want impeachment, he knows what to do. This is politics, not sentiment,” he said.

Earlier in the month, the Rivers State House of Assembly commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, over allegations of gross misconduct.

However, on January 16, a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt issued an interim order restraining the Chief Judge of the state from receiving or acting on any impeachment notice against the governor and his deputy.

The lawmakers have since approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the ruling.

Most members of the Rivers Assembly are believed to be loyal to Wike, who has openly opposed Fubara’s second-term ambition, accusing the governor of violating a peace agreement brokered before President Bola Tinubu lifted the emergency rule earlier imposed on the state.