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.
Yilwatda’s declaration comes amid renewed hostilities between Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over the control of political leadership and structure in the state.
Following his defection to the APC, Governor Fubara had proclaimed himself the “001” of the party in Rivers State.
However, Wike dismissed the claim, insisting that he controls the political structure in the state, arguing that the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had aligned to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
Reacting to the dispute, the APC National Chairman clarified the party’s position during an interview on Channel’s Television Hard Copy.
“Governor Fubara is the leader of the APC in Rivers State, but he would need to coordinate with every other person in the state,” Yilwatda said.
Yilwatda stressed that his support would be guided strictly by the outcome of the party’s primary election.
“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,” he added.