Lawyer Faults Minister’s Claim on APC Leadership in Rivers State

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has automatically become the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state following his recent defection to the ruling party.

Wike’s Position on Party Leadership

Wike, who spoke on Monday during a media parley in Port Harcourt, insisted that party leadership is determined by grassroots structures at the ward and local government levels, not by the office one occupies. “There is nothing like ‘001’ in party politics,” Wike said. “You register in your ward, and your local government is in your ward. Everybody registers in his ward. You could be the first to register, but it does not mean that by becoming governor you automatically become leader of the party.”

Fubara’s Quest for a Second Term

The Guardian reports that Governor Fubara’s quest for a second term has remained contentious in Rivers State, following the protracted political crisis triggered by his rift with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. Since his return to the state for the Yuletide, Wike has repeatedly accused Fubara of reneging on earlier agreements. A reliable source told The Guardian that part of the understanding reached when President Bola Tinubu brokered the most recent peace deal in September this year was that Fubara would not seek a second term in office.

National Secretary of the APC’s Stance

However, since his defection to the APC, Fubara appears to have gained renewed political momentum, buoyed by growing support from power blocs in Abuja. Indeed, the National Secretary of the APC, Senator Ajibola Basiru, recently urged Rivers residents to rally behind the ruling party and support President Tinubu and Governor Fubara in the 2027 general elections. Basiru made the call while commissioning a project in the state, where he also commended Fubara for what he described as impressive governance strides and the delivery of quality projects.

Lawyer’s Reaction to Wike’s Claim

A legal practitioner and political analyst, Living Jamala, has faulted the position of the Minister of the FCT on the leadership of the APC in Rivers State, describing his claims as “laughable” and “preposterous”. Jamala was reacting to Wike’s assertion that Fubara, despite defecting to the APC, could not be regarded as the leader of the party in the state. According to Jamala, Wike’s position was untenable, given that the FCT minister remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Jamala’s Argument

“With due respect to the honourable minister, it is laughable, and to say the least, preposterous, for someone who belongs to another political party to attempt to define leadership within the APC,” he said. The lawyer argued that political parties operate through internal structures and processes, stressing that questions of leadership are the exclusive preserve of party members. “What is the status of the FCT minister in APC affairs? From the records, he is still a member of the PDP. There is no evidence that he has defected to the APC. It is therefore difficult to understand how someone in a different political party can direct or determine the affairs of another,” Jamala stated.

Wike’s Response to Criticisms

The minister, while acknowledging that governors are often regarded as party leaders in their states, stressed that leadership must be earned through influence and control of party structures. “Leadership is not because I am a governor. You must have something that makes you a leader,” he added, and jokingly queried who the political leader is in Lagos State. The former Rivers State governor attributed the lingering political tension in the state to a breakdown of trust, particularly over commitments allegedly made during reconciliation efforts between the governor and the State House of Assembly.

Crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

Wike also criticised what he described as a lack of basic political courtesy on the part of the governor, noting that genuine efforts at unity require deliberate engagement. On the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wike described Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, as “frustrated,” dismissing claims that he met privately with President Bola Tinubu and promised to undermine the opposition party. Makinde had reportedly told journalists that Wike, during a visit to the State House in 2024, promised President Tinubu that he would restrain the PDP in the President’s favour.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the debate over who controls the APC structure in Rivers State continues, with the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara holding different views. While Wike insists that party leadership is determined by grassroots structures, Fubara’s recent defection to the APC has given him renewed political momentum. The lawyer’s reaction to Wike’s claim has added a new dimension to the debate, with Jamala arguing that Wike’s position is untenable given his membership of the PDP.

FAQs

• Who is the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)?
  Nyesom Wike is the Minister of the FCT.
• Who is the Governor of Rivers State?
  Siminalayi Fubara is the Governor of Rivers State.
• What is the basis of Wike’s claim that Fubara is not the leader of the APC in Rivers State?
  Wike claims that party leadership is determined by grassroots structures at the ward and local government levels, not by the office one occupies.
• Who is the National Secretary of the APC?
  Senator Ajibola Basiru is the National Secretary of the APC.
• What is the lawyer’s reaction to Wike’s claim?
  The lawyer, Living Jamala, has faulted Wike’s position, describing it as “laughable” and “preposterous”, given that Wike remains a member of the PDP.

Source: guardian.ng