Rivers APC Chieftain Dismisses Abe’s Claim on Wike’s Leadership Role

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has dismissed as inconsequential a claim by former Rivers South-East Senator, Magnus Abe, that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, is the leader of the APC in Rivers State.

In a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, Eze said both Abe and Wike are not members of the APC and therefore lack the standing to comment on or influence the leadership structure of the party in the state.

According to him, Abe defected from the APC ahead of the 2023 general elections to contest the Rivers governorship on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), where he allegedly failed to secure victory even at his polling unit in Gokana Local Government Area.

Eze also maintained that Wike has remained without a political party since his exit from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), arguing that his continued involvement in APC affairs was unwarranted.

The APC chieftain further stated that during the 2023 presidential election, Wike, who was then governor of Rivers State, failed to deliver his preferred presidential candidate at his polling unit, which was reportedly won by the Labour Party.

“Flowing from these facts, one wonders the basis for the needless debate over party leadership. Leadership of any political party is the exclusive preserve of its members, and only card-carrying members can legitimately occupy leadership positions,” Eze said.

Describing Abe’s position as “dramatic and misplaced,” Eze accused him of consistently fueling political crises, alleging that in 2019, Abe collaborated with then Governor Wike to destabilise the APC in Rivers State, leading to the party’s inability to participate in the elections.

Eze further argued that declaring Wike as the APC leader in Rivers State amounted to an affront to the party’s hierarchy and President Bola Tinubu.

“The APC leadership and President Tinubu have clearly recognised Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the leader of the APC in Rivers State, and that position remains unchanged,” he said.

Eze concluded by urging party members and the public to disregard Abe’s comments, describing them as baseless and aimed at courting attention rather than contributing meaningfully to the growth of the APC in Rivers State.