President Bola Tinubu’s special adviser on policy communication, Daniel Bwala, has reaffirmed that Governor Siminalayi Fubara is the recognised leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, dismissing claims that former governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, holds any formal leadership role within the party.
The clarification was made amid a political standoff in Rivers State that has seen impeachment proceedings against Fubara and renewed debate over party control.
Bwala spoke on Channels Television’s Hard Copy programme on Thursday, January 22, 2026, outlining the APC’s internal position on state leadership.
He said the party’s national chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, clearly stated that a serving governor leads the APC in his state, a position President Tinubu supports as part of adherence to party rules and due process.
“In Rivers State, Governor Fubara is the leader of the APC. Wike is not a member of the APC, so he cannot speak for the party,” Bwala said, stressing that although Wike remains a prominent political figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), his ministerial appointment does not confer authority over APC structures.
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between Fubara and Wike, who has maintained influence in Rivers politics long after leaving office, with some political actors viewing him as a de facto power broker. Bwala however reiterated that Wike’s role in the federal cabinet does not translate into APC leadership, and that any suggestion to the contrary is misplaced.
Addressing concerns about Wike’s perceived influence within the federal government, Bwala said Wike has been “adequately compensated” with his ministerial position, but this does not extend to party authority. He noted that President Tinubu respects the rule of law and internal party procedures and would not compromise these principles for political convenience.
The clarification comes as political activity intensifies ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Fubara’s defection from the PDP to the APC in December 2025 placing him at the centre of state and national political strategy.
Political observers say this endorsement of Fubara’s leadership strengthens APC organisational claims in Rivers, even as factions loyal to Wike continue to challenge aspects of Fubara’s governance.
Bwala also weighed in on impeachment moves against Fubara by the Rivers State House of Assembly, noting that ongoing legal processes including court orders restraining the impeachment — should guide any such political manoeuvres.
He emphasised that Fubara “must be allowed to govern” without undue obstruction, framing the stance as consistent with constitutional order and party loyalty to elected officeholders.
For urban political stakeholders and analysts, the developments in Rivers underscore broader questions about party discipline, regional power dynamics and the nexus between federal influence and state politics in Nigeria.
The APC’s position in support of Fubara signals an effort to consolidate party structure in the South-South geopolitical zone amid intensifying contestation ahead of the next electoral cycle.
