APC Explains Delay in Officially Welcoming Rivers Governor Fubara
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has clarified why newly-defected Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has not yet received an official party welcome.
Speaking on TVC on Sunday, APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda said the delay is part of a strategic plan to navigate regional sensitivities, particularly in northern states.
“We have Kano we’re preparing for. When you’re dealing in politics, we opted to clear the north first because Ramadan is coming and most of the people in the north are Muslims,” Yilwatda explained. “We have a lot of communities in the north that are sensitive to the issue of Ramadan. So we pleaded that we clear the northern governors who have to come to the APC first before going to the south, where we don’t have Ramadan as an issue.”
The APC chairman stressed that the delay has nothing to do with Fubara’s authority. “These are strategies and also acknowledge the sensitivity of each community. That’s the reason we took that decision. It has nothing to do with Siminalayi Fubara not having authority,” he said.
When questioned about claims that Fubara appeared unable to assert control as APC leader in Rivers State, Yilwatda dismissed the premise, asking for evidence of any internal complaint.
“I’m the national chairman. Who complained to you? What petition? I want you to give me one petition. When somebody has not complained, and we’ve not seen a physical petition, the media should not create a petition. And they become the petitioners, the judge, and the jailer at the same time,” he said.
Regarding support groups in Rivers State backing President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda, Yilwatda clarified that such groups are separate from the party’s official structures.
The questions around Fubara’s leadership stem from a longstanding political crisis in Rivers State. His relationship with predecessor Nyesom Wike collapsed following the 2023 power struggle, prompting President Tinubu to declare a six-month state of emergency in the state.
Fubara defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC on December 9, 2025, a move seen as part of his preparation for a second-term bid in 2027 and an effort to consolidate political support after the fallout with Wike.
However, Wike, who remains a powerful political figure in Rivers, has publicly argued that Fubara’s defection does not automatically make him the party leader in the state, pointing to the continued influence of grassroots structures controlled by his supporters.
This dynamic has contributed to ongoing factional tensions, with both APC and PDP actors engaging in negotiations, impeachment attempts, and strategic moves to stabilize Rivers State politics ahead of the 2027 elections. Read More
