Tensions have erupted within the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following a sharp exchange between two top party officials over comments directed at Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
The conflict pitted the party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, against its South‑South National Vice Chairman, Hon. Victor Giadom, after Giadom described Fubara as a so‑called governor of Rivers State during a thank‑you visit to Gokana Local Government Area last week by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
On Sunday, Basiru took to his verified Facebook handle to condemn Giadom’s language, describing it as disrespectful both to the office of a state governor and to the party itself.
“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.
He added that even where political differences exist, “elected offices must be accorded due respect.”
“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,” he said.
Basiru emphasised the sanctity of public office, insisting that derogatory descriptions of elected officials are unacceptable.
He said, “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.
“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.”
Giadom had made the controversial comments during Wike’s visit to Gokana LGA, where he asserted that Governor Fubara would have little political traction without the backing of Wike.
“I guarantee, on behalf of my brothers, that the Gokana people are for Wike and Tinubu and nobody will challenge Wike’s influence in Gokana,” Giadom said.
He added, “Gokana is a ‘no‑go area’ for anybody, even Governor Fubara. For him to win anything in Gokana, he must pass through Wike.”
Giadom’s remarks found support among some local APC leaders, including Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Dumle Maol, and Gokana LGA Chairman, Confidence Deko, who both pledged loyalty to Wike and President Bola Tinubu.
During the event, Wike thanked residents of Gokana for their support and urged unity.
He reiterated that both APC and PDP members in Rivers State were cooperating under President Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’, stressing collaboration despite party lines.