Fubara is APC leader in Rivers, Wike isn’t a party member, Tinubu’s aide agrees with Nentawe, national party chair

President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has directly stated that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara is the recognized leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, clarifying that former governor Nyesom Wike is not a member of the ruling party.

Bwala, spoke on Channels Television’s Hard Copy program, reinforced the position of Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, the National Chairman of the APC.

Bwala spoke against the backdrop of political turmoil in Rivers State that has included impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara initiated by the state assembly.

According to him, “I agree with the national chairman that in Rivers State, Governor Fubara is the leader of the APC.”

“Wike is not a member of APC, so he cannot speak for the APC,” he said.

He elaborated that while Wike may hold influence within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers, he holds no authority within the APC. “He may be the leader of the PDP in Rivers State… but in APC, the leader of the party in Rivers State is Governor Fubara,” Bwala stated.

Addressing the impeachment moves, Bwala emphasized the party’s position that the governor must be “allowed to govern without interference,” citing existing court orders that have halted such proceedings.

On the relationship between Wike’s ministerial role and party affiliation, Bwala clarified that serving as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) means working for the federal government, not the APC as a political party. He dismissed notions of Wike’s undue influence within the administration, stating President Tinubu rewards performance but not at the expense of the national interest.

According to Bwala, President Tinubu supports the APC leadership’s stance on Rivers State, respecting party procedure and the rule of law. He suggested the party’s recognition of Fubara as its leader in the state effectively settles the dispute, urging all parties to respect due process and constitutional governance.

Governor Fubara defected from the PDP to the APC in December 2025 and has since received the party’s endorsement for a second term in the 2027 elections. The APC maintains that despite his ministerial position under an APC-led government, Nyesom Wike has no official standing within the party.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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