The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has stepped firmly into the escalating Rivers State political crisis, throwing its weight behind Governor Siminalayi Fubara and cautioning party members accused of undermining his authority to tread carefully.
The intervention comes against the backdrop of deepening political tension in the oil-rich state, driven largely by the ongoing rivalry between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. Their prolonged face-off has polarized Rivers politics and drawn national attention.
In a no-holds-barred interview with Sunday PUNCH, the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, made it clear that the ruling party stands solidly with Fubara—especially as the governor prepares for a second-term bid.
Basiru dismissed suggestions that Fubara could be weakened or frustrated from within the APC, stressing that the party’s culture and internal structures are designed to protect and support sitting governors.
“Nobody can frustrate any APC governor,” Basiru said. “Fubara, like other APC governors, is running the affairs of his state well.”
He emphasized that Fubara’s status as an APC governor automatically entitles him to institutional backing from the party’s top organs, including the influential Progressive Governors’ Forum.
“Fubara is a governor of the APC, and the Governors’ Forum of the APC is always a major support for the party,” Basiru stated. “By the rules of our party, we are going to respect the governors and give them the necessary support.”
Subtle Warning to Wike-Aligned Figures
Basiru’s remarks are widely interpreted as a direct response to recent statements by some APC figures in the South-South zone believed to be loyal to Wike. These individuals have repeatedly questioned Fubara’s authority, raising concerns within the party over indiscipline and internal disunity.
In particularly strong terms, the APC National Secretary condemned comments allegedly made by a member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), who also serves as Vice Chairman of the APC in the South-South, for referring to Fubara as a “so-called governor of Rivers State.”
“I find it unfortunate that a member of the NWC, who is the Vice Chairman of the South-South zone of the APC, was referring to a governor in our party as a ‘so-called governor of Rivers State’,” Basiru said. “No matter what his allegiances are to anybody, it is unbecoming of somebody holding such a sensitive position, and it should not be encouraged by anybody.”
Basiru went further to stress that respect for democratic institutions must rise above personal loyalties and political grudges.
“Even if the governor is not in our party, you can’t refer to an elected governor as a ‘so-called governor’ in order to please anybody,” he said. “The office of the governor is an exalted position, and whoever is occupying it must be respected, irrespective of whatever political differences you have or whatever animosity exists between them.”
‘Wike Does Not Decide Rivers’ Fate’
While Basiru avoided mentioning Wike directly, the undertone of his message was unmistakable. The comments point squarely at the power struggle in Rivers State, where Wike—now a key figure in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration—still commands considerable influence.
Backing Basiru’s position, a senior APC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, downplayed Wike’s perceived dominance over Rivers politics.
“Wike cannot determine the governor’s fate,” the source said. “Ultimately, the decision on Rivers will be that of the President, not him.”
The official described Wike’s repeated assertions of political supremacy as exaggerated, arguing that they do not fully reflect current political realities.
“Wike is just unnecessarily agitating himself because ultimately, the decision on Rivers will be that of the President,” the source reiterated. “Wike is not as popular as he is claiming to be.”
To support the claim, the APC chieftain pointed to Wike’s performance in the last general election.
“He lost his polling unit in the last election; he lost to the Labour Party,” the official said. “He is just lucky that the President won and felt that he (Wike) was useful to tackle the opposition.”
According to the source, APC’s success in Rivers during the 2023 elections was achieved through a broader national strategy rather than the influence of any single political heavyweight.
“It was a tough one winning Rivers State,” the official added, dismissing claims of sole ownership or control of the state’s political machinery.
APC Draws the Line
The open endorsement of Fubara by the APC national leadership is expected to strengthen the governor’s position and reassure his supporters, many of whom fear sustained attempts to undermine his administration. Since assuming office, Fubara has faced relentless political pressure, including a bitter fallout with his predecessor that has spilled into the State House of Assembly and disrupted governance.
For the APC, the Rivers crisis presents a delicate balancing act: managing the ambitions of a powerful figure like Wike while defending party discipline, respecting democratic institutions, and standing firmly behind a sitting governor.
Political analysts say the strong tone from the APC National Secretariat signals a clear intention to reassert central authority and prevent internal disagreements from spiraling into open factional warfare—especially in a strategically important state like Rivers.
As tensions continue to rise, attention now turns to how Wike and his allies will respond to the party’s warning—and whether this call for respect and unity will finally cool the political temperature in Rivers State.
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