The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Yilwata, has unequivocally declared Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the leader of the party in Rivers State, insisting that there is no ambiguity about the party’s leadership structure in the state.
Speaking on the political developments in Rivers, Prof. Yilwata said the APC’s position is clear and definitive.
“Governor Fubara is the leader of APC in Rivers State, there is no two ways about that,” the APC national chairman stated.
He further clarified that his comments were strictly limited to members of the ruling party, stressing that he could not speak for individuals who are not part of the APC.
“I can only talk about members of my party and not those not in my party,” he said.
Addressing questions on whether the APC would support Governor Fubara should he seek a second term in office, Prof. Yilwata made it clear that the governor would not be granted an automatic ticket, noting that due process and internal democracy remain sacrosanct within the party.
He drew parallels with similar developments in other states, citing Ekiti State as an example where the sitting governor was required to contest the party’s primary election alongside other aspirants before emerging as the APC candidate.
“We did primaries in Ekiti State and the governor contested with others before he emerged as the APC candidate. The same rule applies to every state — even Governor Fubara will have to go through the normal process if he seeks the ticket,” Yilwata noted.
The APC chairman also made it clear that discussions relating to the party’s affairs and elections in Rivers State would be conducted with Governor Fubara, not the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, who remains a member of the 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,” Yilwata stated.
“We will be discussing with Siminalayi Fubara because he is a member of the All Progressives Congress right now,” he added.
When asked whether Wike still influences APC politics in Rivers State, the national chairman dismissed the suggestion, saying undue attention was being given to issues that do not concern the party.
“I think we are overflogging what we don’t need to overflog,” he said.
“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.”
Recall that following his defection to the APC, Governor Fubara had declared himself the ‘001 of APC’ in Rivers State. However, Wike, in a veiled response on Monday, dismissed claims that Fubara had automatically become the leader of the APC in the state after joining the ruling party.
“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.”
Despite Wike’s remarks, Prof. Yilwata’s statement firmly reinforces Governor Fubara’s leadership status within the APC in Rivers State, while also underscoring the party’s insistence on internal democracy and strict adherence to established procedures ahead of future elections.
