The Presidency has affirmed that Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, is the recognised leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, insisting that former governor Nyesom Wike is not a member of the ruling party.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, clarified Channels Television’s Hard Copy programme amid the deepening political crisis in Rivers State, which has escalated into impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara by members of the State Assembly.
Bwala aligned with the position earlier stated by the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, stressing that party leadership in Rivers rests squarely with Fubara.
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“In Rivers State, Governor Fubara is the leader of the APC. Wike is not a member of the APC, so he cannot speak for the APC,” Bwala said.
He acknowledged that Wike may still wield influence within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state but has no authority within the APC.
“He may be the leader of the PDP in Rivers State because he was a former governor, and they do not have a governor at the moment. But in APC, the leader of the party in Rivers State is Governor Fubara,” he added.
Bwala said President Tinubu fully supports the position of the APC leadership and is committed to due process and internal party discipline.
“The President believes in the rule of law and rule-based practice. With respect to party affairs, what the national chairman said is the position the President sticks to because he respects party procedure,” he stated.
On the impeachment moves against Fubara, Bwala said the party’s position is unambiguous.
“There have been orders of court that stopped impeachment. The party is clear. Nobody should stop Fubara from governing the state,” he said.
He further clarified that Wike’s role as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory should not be mistaken for party influence, noting that he serves the federal government, not the APC as a political organisation.
Dismissing claims of undue influence, Bwala said President Tinubu rewards performance but will not sacrifice national interest.
“The President believes in compensating people, but not at the expense of the interests of Nigeria. He will give you latitude and privilege, but not at the expense of what is right,” he said.
He added that the dispute between Wike and Fubara has effectively been settled by the party’s recognition of Fubara as APC leader in Rivers, urging all parties to respect constitutional governance and due process.
Governor Fubara defected from the PDP to the APC in December 2025 and has since been endorsed by the party for a second term in the 2027 elections.
Wike, despite serving as FCT Minister under an APC-led administration, has not joined the APC. Party leaders maintain that he has no official standing in the ruling party and works solely for the federal government.
Source: Channels Television
