Senior figures in Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have moved to publicly back Rivers State governor Siminalayi Fubara, throwing the weight of the party behind his administration and re-election bid amid escalating hostilities with the minister of the federal capital territory, Nyesom Wike.
Ajibola Basiru, the APC’s national secretary, said the governor enjoyed the full support of the party, dismissing suggestions that internal manoeuvring could be used to frustrate his second-term ambition. “Nobody can frustrate any APC governor,” Basiru told Media. “Fubara, like other APC governors, is running the affairs of his state well.”
Fubara formally defected from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party to the APC on 9 December, a move widely interpreted as a strategic realignment ahead of the 2027 governorship election. His switch was swiftly followed by the defection of 17 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, dramatically altering the state’s political balance.
The APC’s national chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, has since declared Fubara the leader of the party in Rivers State, a statement that further inflamed tensions with Wike, the former governor who remains one of the most influential political figures in the state. Speaking on Channels Television’s Hard Copy, Yilwatda said the governor would lead the party locally but must “coordinate with every other person in the state”.
Wike, however, has rejected that assertion outright. The FCT minister has repeatedly warned that Fubara’s defection does not guarantee him a second term, accusing the governor of breaching a peace agreement and engaging in what he described as “opportunistic politics”. He has insisted that he, not Fubara, still controls the political machinery of Rivers, boasting of loyalists embedded across local governments and ward structures.
Apparently responding to Wike’s remarks, Fubara struck a defiant tone at a public event broadcast by Arise TV. “The only reason the dog barks is when it doesn’t understand,” he said. “We know where we are going and have set all the things that are needed to make the journey smooth.”
Behind the scenes, APC insiders have been blunter. A senior national official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Wike had no power to determine the governor’s political future. “Ultimately, the decision on Rivers will be that of the president, not him,” the official said, arguing that Wike’s claims of dominance were exaggerated. “He lost his polling unit in the last election; he lost to the Labour Party. He is just lucky the president won and found him useful in tackling the opposition.”
The official added that, under party rules, sitting governors enjoy strong institutional backing. “Fubara is a governor of the APC, and the governors’ forum is always a major support base. We are duty-bound to respect our governors and give them the necessary support,” he said, while noting that the party would not formally impose candidates.
Even so, he acknowledged the structural advantage of incumbency. “The dynamics are always in favour of a sitting governor. Unless critical stakeholders at the national level feel otherwise, an incumbent stands a better chance than people coming from outside.”
Basiru reinforced that position, stressing that the national working committee’s mandate was to rally behind APC governors and strengthen party structures nationwide. He also rebuked party figures who had publicly disparaged Fubara, describing as “unfortunate” remarks by the APC’s south-south vice-chairman, Victor Giadom, who referred to Fubara as a “so-called governor”.
“Even if the governor is not in our party, you cannot refer to an elected governor in such a manner,” Basiru said. “The office of governor is an exalted position and must be respected, irrespective of political differences.”
Other national officers echoed that line. Duru Eze, the deputy national organising secretary, said Fubara and other governors who had joined the APC had the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu, as well as the party’s national executive and working committees. Bala Ibrahim, the party’s publicity director, said defectors were drawn by Tinubu’s “renewed hope” agenda and would receive full support.
At state level, the APC’s Rivers publicity secretary, Chibike Ikenga, said only the president and the party’s national leadership could decide Fubara’s re-election prospects. “We allowed him to join the party; the president allowed him to join,” Ikenga said. “So, at that level, they know what he deserves.”
While acknowledging Wike’s role in Fubara’s original rise to office, Ikenga dismissed suggestions that the former governor could dictate the APC’s ticket. “Wike is not a member of the APC and he is not contesting the governorship seat, so why do people want to jump the gun?” he asked.
Outside the party, Rivers elders have been more scathing. Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, a member of the state elders and leaders council, accused Wike of attempting to derail democratic processes and warned against “playing God” with the state’s future. “It is the electorate that will decide,” he said, cautioning that political tides can turn swiftly.
Another elder, Chief Asukewe Iko-Awaji, was even more direct. “The only person who can stop Fubara is God,” he said, blaming the prolonged crisis on Wike’s conduct and warning that Rivers people would resist any imposed candidate.
Wike, however, has shown little sign of retreat. Addressing supporters in Okrika at the weekend, he described Fubara’s emergence as a “mistake” that must not be repeated, vowing to block any attempt at his re-election. Defection to the APC, he warned, offered no automatic ticket.
“The mistake we made in 2023, we shall correct it,” Wike said, in a speech laced with threats of political confrontation. “For the other one, no way.”
As the standoff hardens, Rivers State appears set for a bruising political battle, with party loyalty, personal rivalry and presidential authority colliding in a struggle that could shape the state’s future – and test the limits of power within Nigeria’s ruling party.
