Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has stepped into the escalating political tension in Rivers State, with its National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, formally recognising Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the party’s leader in the state.
The declaration comes amid a renewed power struggle between Governor Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over political control and leadership influence in Rivers, one of Nigeria’s most strategic political battlegrounds.
Following his defection to the APC, Governor Fubara had publicly described himself as the party’s “number one” member in Rivers State, a claim that quickly drew sharp pushback from Wike, his former political ally turned rival.
Wike countered Fubara’s assertion by insisting that he retains control of the state’s political structure, arguing that both the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are aligned behind President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.
Addressing the controversy during an interview on Channels Television’s Hard Copy, APC Chairman Yilwatda clarified the party’s position, acknowledging Fubara’s leadership status while stressing the need for internal collaboration. “Governor Fubara is the leader of the APC in Rivers State, but he would need to coordinate with every other person in the state,” he said.
Yilwatda also set a clear condition for supporting Fubara’s ambition for a second term, stating that party loyalty would be determined through the APC’s internal democratic process. “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 said.
He added that the party would stand firmly behind whoever wins the primaries, noting: “If he loses the primary, I’ll sympathise with him and go with the person who wins the primary election,” a statement that underscores the APC’s emphasis on party supremacy over individual influence.
