President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has stated that Governor Siminalayi Fubara is the recognised leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, and that former governor Nyesom Wike is not a member of the party and cannot speak for it. The clarification came amid political tension and impeachment proceedings against Fubara.
Bwala made the comments on Channels Television’s Hard Copy programme on Thursday, addressing confusion over party leadership in Rivers State. He said the APC’s national chairman Nentawe Yilwatda and the party’s structure recognise Fubara, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in December 2025, as the official party leader in the state.
He noted that Wike, who currently serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), remains a leader within the PDP but is not an APC member. As such, Bwala said, Wike does not have authority to define or represent the APC in Rivers.
According to Bwala, President Tinubu supports the APC leadership’s position based on internal party rules, the rule of law and due process. He said the nation’s constitution and party rules mandate that recognised party leaders be determined by membership and formal structures.
He also addressed impeachment efforts against Governor Fubara by the Rivers State House of Assembly, saying that APC expects the governor to be allowed to carry out his duties without undue interference and that court orders have temporarily halted impeachment actions.
Governor Fubara’s defection to the APC followed his election as governor in 2023 on the PDP platform and came after several lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly also defected to the APC.
His move triggered a political standoff with forces loyal to former governor Wike, who served as governor before Fubara and remains influential in state politics.
The disagreement has centred on political alignment, leadership and control of state structures. Impeachment proceedings against Fubara in the Rivers Assembly heightened the tension, prompting wider national attention and statements from federal actors.
The APC leadership’s position is expected to influence ongoing political developments in Rivers, including the impeachment process and preparations for 2027 elections. Observers say the national party’s stance could guide party members and supporters as tensions persist between local political factions.
