Two prominent political figures in Rivers State, Edison Ehie and Boma Iyaye, on Sunday, March 29, 2026, denied claims linking them to the 2027 governorship race, pushing back against growing speculation over political alignments in the state.
The denials followed the circulation of a campaign-style poster depicting Ehie alongside former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dakuku Peterside, as a proposed governorship and deputy governorship ticket under the African Democratic Congress.
The poster, which bore the message “Rivers Must Be Free From the Hands of One Man” and the sub-theme “We Must Take Back Our Rivers 2027,” gained traction across social media, fuelling early permutations ahead of the next election cycle.
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt, Ehie, immediate past Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, described the material as “mischievous and desperate,” saying it was designed to mislead the public and create division within the state.
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He reaffirmed his loyalty to the All Progressives Congress and to Governor Fubara, stressing that his inclusion in the poster was unauthorised and should be disregarded.
In a separate statement, Iyaye, Executive Director, Finance and Administration at the Niger Delta Development Commission, also dismissed reports suggesting he had declared interest in the governorship or secured endorsement from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Iyaye said the claims were inaccurate, noting that his focus remains on his current responsibilities at the commission.
He added that he has neither made a formal declaration nor received endorsement from any political figure, urging the public to rely on verified information.
The developments come amid heightened political manoeuvring in Rivers State, as attention gradually shifts towards the 2027 governorship election.