Rivers APC Hails Presidency for Backing Fubara as Party Leader

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to the position of the Presidency on the protracted political rift between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

InfoStride News reports that the Presidency on Thursday affirmed that Governor Fubara is the leader of the APC in Rivers State.

The clarification was made by President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy and Communication, Daniel Bwala, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.

Bwala stated that President Tinubu fully supports Governor Fubara and emphasized that the governor should be allowed to perform his duties without undue interference.

While acknowledging the role of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, in the Tinubu administration, Bwala clarified that Wike is not a member of the APC, stressing that Fubara remains the party’s leader in the state.

Reacting in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Darlington Nwauju, the Rivers APC expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for reaffirming the party’s constitutional position.

“We are grateful to the President and Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, leader of the APC in Nigeria, for sticking to our party constitution by reaffirming the position of the Governor through his Special Adviser on Policy and Communication, Daniel Bwala,” the statement read.

The party said the presidential clarification vindicated its long-held position and aligned with the policy direction of the APC national leadership under its chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru.

The Rivers APC commended President Tinubu for adhering to party management principles that recognize APC governors as leaders of the party at the state level to promote unity, mobilisation and efficiency.

“This timely reaffirmation justifies the position of Rivers State APC on His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara as the leader of our party in Rivers State and should correct any false or misleading narratives being peddled by political jobbers,” the party said.

The party also condemned comments attributed to the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, on the impeachment process against Governor Fubara and his deputy, describing them as personal opinions that contradict the spirit of party membership.

It urged Morka to step aside from his role, accusing him of failing to protect the party’s organisational objectives.

Furthermore, the Rivers APC reminded the National Working Committee of subsisting court judgments on the party’s leadership in the state and called for the immediate conduct of congresses at ward, local government and state levels to harmonise contending interests.

The party also called on Governor Fubara, as leader of the APC in Rivers State, to convene a stakeholders’ meeting to chart a clear direction for the party going forward.