The Presidency has put to rest the lingering controversy surrounding the leadership structure of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, declaring Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the undisputed leader of the party in the state.
This clarification was made yesterday by the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Policy Communication, Mr. Daniel Bwala, during his appearance on Hard Copy, a political programme aired on Channels Television.
Bwala stated unequivocally that President Tinubu aligns with the position earlier expressed by the National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, regarding the party’s leadership hierarchy in Rivers State. According to him, the President recognises Governor Fubara as the political leader of the APC in the state, consistent with established party tradition where the sitting governor assumes leadership of the party structure at the state level.
“The position of the national chairman reflects the position of the President,” Bwala said, stressing that there was no ambiguity in the matter at the national level of the party.
The declaration effectively ends weeks of speculation and internal disputes within the Rivers APC, which had been fuelled by the ongoing political crisis in the state and the strained relationship between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, a key figure within the party.
Political observers note that the Presidency’s intervention is significant, as Rivers State remains a strategic political battleground ahead of future elections. The clarification is also seen as an attempt to stabilise the party structure in the state and prevent further factionalisation that could weaken the APC’s electoral fortunes.
Bwala further emphasized that President Tinubu is committed to party unity and constitutional order, adding that internal disagreements must be resolved through established party mechanisms rather than public confrontations.
The statement from the Presidency is expected to recalibrate political alignments within the Rivers APC, as party stakeholders now await concrete steps toward reconciliation and internal cohesion under Governor Fubara’s leadership.
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