2027: Ehie, Iyaye deny governorship ambition, reaffirm loyalty

In Rivers State, on Sunday, two political figures, Edison Ehie and Boma Iyaye, denied claims that they are preparing to run for governor in the 2027 election, following the spread of rumours and campaign materials suggesting otherwise.

Ehie, who previously served as Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, reacted after a campaign poster surfaced online linking him with Dakuku Peterside under the platform of the African Democratic Congress. The poster portrayed both men as candidates for governor and deputy governor.

He described the material as false and misleading, stating that he had no connection to the message or the political plan it suggested. He also reaffirmed his loyalty to the current administration in the state.

The development comes amid rising political tension in the state, where different groups are already being linked to possible alignments ahead of the next election cycle. Ehie maintained that the claims were created to cause confusion and weaken unity among political actors in the state.

In a similar response, Iyaye, who currently serves as Executive Director at the Niger Delta Development Commission and is known to be close to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, also dismissed reports of his alleged ambition. He said he has not declared interest in the governorship race and has not received any form of endorsement from Wike or any political group.

Iyaye explained that his focus remains on his current role at the commission, where he is working with other officials to carry out development projects in the Niger Delta region. He added that reports linking him to a governorship plan are not accurate and should be ignored by the public.

The denials from both men follow growing speculation about who may contest the Rivers governorship seat in 2027. Their statements also come after Wike publicly stated that he has not endorsed any candidate for the upcoming election.

Observers say the situation reflects the early stages of political positioning in the state, as different camps try to gain attention ahead of the polls.

However, both Ehie and Iyaye have made it clear that, for now, they are not part of any governorship plan and remain focused on their current roles.