Barely hours after Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, reportedly dropped his re-election ambition, another politician bearing the same surname, Blessing Fubara Snr, has formally entered the 2027 governorship race under the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Blessing Fubara Snr, a development strategist and urban renewal consultant, obtained the party’s nomination and expression of interest forms at the NDC national headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, signalling what political observers describe as an early intensification of the battle for the Rivers State Government House ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development has already generated widespread political interest across Rivers State, particularly because both Blessing Fubara and Governor Siminalayi Fubara hail from Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area. However, it remains unclear whether the two men share any direct family relationship.
Confirming the development, the Rivers State Chairman of the NDC, Hon. Success Jack, said the party remained determined to challenge the dominance of larger political parties in the state and was actively positioning itself for victory in the next election cycle.
“Yes, he obtained his expression of interest form in Abuja, and we are fully prepared to contest and win not only the governorship election but several other positions in Rivers State in 2027,” Jack said.
He, however, noted that he could not confirm whether Blessing Fubara Snr was related to the incumbent governor.
Political analysts believe the timing of Blessing Fubara’s entry into the race has added another layer of intrigue to Rivers politics, especially amid ongoing political realignments and tensions surrounding the future of the state’s leadership structure.
Before joining the NDC, Blessing Fubara was a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He defected to the opposition party about two weeks ago during a political event in Abuja attended by the party’s national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, alongside other party stakeholders.
Speaking during his defection, Fubara described the NDC as “a moving train” and said his decision to join the party was motivated by what he called the urgent need to “rescue Rivers State” ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The soul of Rivers State is at stake, and the people are ready to take back their future,” he reportedly stated during the event.
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Blessing Fubara Snr holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Development and Adult Education and currently serves as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of D’Consiglories LLC.
Over the years, he has built a profile around youth empowerment, grassroots mobilisation, urban development initiatives, and public sector advisory services.
Supporters within the NDC have described his emergence as the beginning of a fresh political movement capable of reshaping the state’s political landscape.
However, critics argue that the real challenge for the party lies in building a formidable grassroots structure strong enough to compete with established political platforms across the state.
The latest development comes at a period of heightened political activity nationwide, as parties continue consultations, alliances, and internal restructuring ahead of the 2027 elections.
Rivers State, one of Nigeria’s most politically strategic and economically significant states, is expected to remain a major battleground in the coming electoral cycle.