The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has said that Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, is the leader of the party in the state.
Yilwatda made the statement while speaking on Hard Copy, a programme on Channels Television.
According to him, the APC recognises sitting governors as leaders of the party in their respective states, but stressed that such leadership must be inclusive and should not sideline other party members.
“You being the leader doesn’t mean that you now disenfranchise people who are within the state, so we give that room for inclusion,” he said.
Yilwatda explained that his responsibility as national chairman is to coordinate party activities at the state level, not to impose leadership decisions.
When asked directly if Governor Fubara is the leader of the APC in Rivers State, he responded affirmatively.
“Yes, but he will need to coordinate every other person in the state,” he said.
On whether he would back Fubara for a second term should the governor seek re-election, Yilwatda said party candidates can only emerge through the primary election process.
“I’m not the person to choose people in the primary election; everybody undergoes primary election,” he said.
“If Siminalayi emerges as a candidate for APC in Rivers State, I’ll stand by him, but if any other person emerges as the candidate of APC in Rivers State, I’ll go with him.”
He added that party support is based strictly on candidates who emerge from primaries, not on personal preferences.
“When Sim picks a form, he is an aspirant. If he emerges as the candidate, I’ll support him; if he loses, I’ll sympathise with him and go with the person that wins the primary election,” he said.
Asked about the political influence of former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, Yilwatda declined to comment.
“I’m the chairman of APC, not chairman of all political parties in Nigeria,” he said.