Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, and the Rivers State All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda, as well as their supporters on Tuesday met with the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

According to report, the meeting was aimed at consolidating the political reconciliation in the state.

The closed-door meeting, which was held in Port Harcourt, the state capital reportedly lasted for about four hours and brought together key figures and supporters from both sides.

The engagement was said to be the first known occasion Governor Fubara hosted or personally participated in a reconciliation meeting with his supporters.

This is coming after years of political wranglings that created deep divisions among political actors and supporters, including the prolonged dispute between the Governor and the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Wike and Chinda arrived at the Governor’s residence in Port Harcourt with their supporters at about 4 pm, joining Governor Fubara and his supporters for the discussions

However, at the time of filing this report, details of the meeting were yet to be ascertained as both sides maintained silence.

The governorship candidate of the Allied People’s Movement, APM, in Ogun State, Babajide Matthew, has urged the Federal Government to continue to provide the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, with the necessary independence and institutional space to conduct the 2027 elections impartially.

He appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing an environment for INEC to discharge its constitutional responsibilities without undue interference, arguing that sustaining such independence would be crucial to strengthening confidence in Nigeria’s electoral democracy ahead of the general elections.

Matthew stated this on Tuesday in an open letter to the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN.

While commending the commission for the progress demonstrated in recent electoral processes, particularly the Osun State governorship election, he noted that the conduct of the poll provided an opportunity for Nigerians to observe INEC’s commitment to neutrality, professionalism and due process.

“I respectfully encourage the Federal Government to continue to give the Commission the necessary independence and institutional space to conduct the 2027 elections impartially,” he stated.

Matthew said many Nigerians were looking towards INEC with renewed expectations with Amupitan at the helm of affairs, expressing optimism that the commission under his watch had an important opportunity to further strengthen confidence in the nation’s democracy.

The governorship candidate, while lauding the Legal Department of INEC for its diligence and professionalism in supporting and defending the integrity of the electoral system, commended the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ogun State, Mrs Saseyi Ibiyemi, for working assiduously in the state.

“As a political candidate, I recognise that my responsibility is to participate in the democratic process and to respect the institutions established to conduct it. As a Nigerian, however, my greater interest is in seeing a credible electoral process that reflects the genuine will of the people,” he added.