APC recognises Fubara as Rivers Party Leader, pledges support If he wins primaries

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has formally recognised Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the leader of the party in Rivers State, amid lingering political tension between the governor and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over control of the state’s political structure.

Yilwatda’s declaration follows renewed hostilities between the two political heavyweights, sparked by competing claims to leadership and influence within Rivers State politics.

The disagreement deepened after Governor Fubara defected to the APC and subsequently declared himself the “001” of the party in the state, a claim that drew sharp rebuttal from Wike.

Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, had dismissed Fubara’s assertion, insisting that he remains in control of the political structure in the state.

He argued that the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had aligned forces in Rivers State in support of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, thereby reinforcing his influence across party lines.

However, speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Hard Copy, Yilwatda made it clear that the APC leadership recognises Governor Fubara as the party’s leader in Rivers State, while also emphasising the need for inclusiveness and internal coordination.

“Governor Fubara is the leader of the APC in Rivers State, but he would need to coordinate with every other person in the state,” Yilwatda said.

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The APC chairman further clarified his position on the party’s governorship ticket ahead of the next election cycle, stressing that his support would be determined strictly by the outcome of the party’s primary election.

“I don’t choose who to support in the state’s primary election. If Fubara emerges as the APC candidate, I’ll support him,” he stated. “If he loses the primary, I’ll sympathise with him and go with the person who wins the primary election.”

Yilwatda’s remarks are seen as a significant intervention in the evolving political dynamics of Rivers State, as both Fubara and Wike continue to exert influence over party loyalists and political structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The development also signals the APC’s emphasis on internal democratic processes, even as high-profile defections and alliances reshape the state’s political landscape.