The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially recognised Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the leader of the party in Rivers State, the party’s national chairman, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, has confirmed.
Yilwatda made the declaration during an interview on Channels Television’s Hard Copy, explaining that it is the APC’s policy to designate serving governors as leaders of the party in their states. He stressed, however, that the role requires collaboration with other party stakeholders to ensure unity and effective 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. “In all the states, we have the state governors lead the parties in their respective states. In APC, we give them that privilege, but we also ask the governors to ensure inclusion — to coordinate and carry everyone along.”
On whether Fubara would automatically receive the party’s backing if he seeks a second term, Yilwatda noted that the governor would still be required to participate in the party’s primary process, just like any other aspirant. He cited the example of Ekiti State, where the incumbent governor had to contest in a primary election before emerging as the party’s candidate.
“We did primaries in Ekiti State, and the governor competed with other candidates before he became the APC flagbearer. The same rule applies to every state — even Governor Fubara will have to go through the normal process if he seeks the ticket,” he said.
Yilwatda also clarified that matters concerning APC activities in Rivers State would be discussed with Governor Fubara, not Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who remains a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“If we are discussing elections, we will not be discussing with Nyesom Wike. He is not a member of our party. We will be discussing with Siminalayi Fubara because he is a member of the All Progressives Congress right now,” he explained.
Asked if Wike continues to influence APC politics in the state, Yilwatda dismissed the notion, insisting his concern is with APC members alone.
“I think we are overflogging what we don’t need to overflog. Wike is in PDP. Allow me to discuss members of my party, not people who are not members. I am chairman of the APC, not chairman of all political parties in Nigeria,” he said.
Following his defection to the APC, Governor Fubara had styled himself as the ‘001 of APC’ in Rivers. Wike, however, rejected the claim, maintaining that a governor’s position does not automatically confer party leadership.
“There is nothing like ‘001’ in party politics,” Wike said. “You register in your ward, and your local government is in your ward. Everybody registers in his ward. You could be the first to register, but it does not mean that by becoming governor, you automatically become leader of the party.”
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