The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has declared governor Siminalayi Fubara as the leader of the party in Rivers State.
There has been a fresh level of hostilities between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and Fubara, over the leadership position in the state.
After his defection to the APC in December 2025, Fubara declared himself “001” of the party in the state.
However, Wike, who is a factional leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the governor is only a leader in his ward and not in the APC in the state.
Wike had dismissed the governor’s stance, stressing that he controls the political structure in the state, since APC and the PDP have teamed up to support President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Reacting, Yilwatda, however, said he would support Fubara for a second term if he wins the party’s primaries.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Hard Copy, Yilwatda said:
“Governor Fubara is the leader of the APC in Rivers State, but he would need to coordinate with every other person in the state.
“I don’t choose who to support in the state’s primary election. If Fubara emerges as the APC candidate, I’ll support him.
“If he loses the primary, I’ll sympathise with him and go with the person who wins the primary election.”
