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In a significant development in the prolonged political crisis rocking Rivers State, Bola Tinubu has affirmed Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
The position was reiterated through Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Daniel Bwala, during an appearance on Channels Television.
Bwala emphasized that Fubara holds the party’s leadership role in Rivers, while clarifying that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike — a prominent APC figure nationally — is not formally a member of the party in the state structure.
This stance aligns with the APC National Chairman’s earlier position recognizing Fubara as the party’s leader in Rivers.
It comes amid ongoing tensions between Fubara, a former PDP governor who has aligned closely with the APC, and Wike, his predecessor and political godfather-turned-rival.
The affirmation follows Fubara’s recent inclusion in the APC’s high-level Committee on Strategy, Conflict Resolution, and Mobilisation, inaugurated by Tinubu to address internal party disputes and prepare for future elections.
Sources indicate Tinubu personally supported Fubara’s appointment to foster balance and unity within the party in Rivers.
The move is widely interpreted as a setback for Wike’s faction, which has been locked in a bitter power struggle with Fubara.
Recent events include attempts by lawmakers aligned with Wike to push impeachment proceedings against the governor — efforts that faced legal hurdles, including a court ruling halting the process and the Rivers State Chief Judge declining to constitute an investigative panel.
Fubara, who has publicly pledged support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 as appreciation for interventions that stabilized his administration, has gradually strengthened ties with the APC national leadership.
This includes backing from several APC governors in the South-South and beyond, who have endorsed his leadership and potential second-term ambitions.
Analysts view the development as part of Tinubu’s broader strategy to consolidate APC influence in key states ahead of future polls, while ensuring governors can operate without excessive interference.
Bwala stressed that governors must be allowed to discharge their duties unhindered, adding that Wike has been “adequately compensated” for past contributions and should not pursue actions at the expense of national or state interests.
Fubara, Wike and Tinubu
Credit: Punch Newspapers
Social media erupted with reactions following the statement, with supporters of Fubara celebrating the endorsement and mocking Wike’s camp, while others speculated on potential shifts in loyalty among local government officials and assembly members.
The Rivers political landscape remains volatile, with the APC faction in the state backing judicial interventions that protect Fubara’s position.
As the party navigates internal reconciliation efforts, Tinubu’s clear backing of the sitting governor signals a preference for stability under Fubara’s leadership in the oil-rich state.
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This latest twist underscores the complex alliances shaping Nigerian politics, where national interests increasingly intersect with state-level rivalries.
