Former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike said his successor, Siminalayi Fubara, was not the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, despite his defection to the party.
The Port City News (TCPN) earlier reported that Fubara defected from the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC and pledged to work for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu.
Fubara had said the PDP could not save him when he needed support and, during the presentation of his APC membership card, declared himself the number one member of the party in the state.
However, Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), dismissed Fubara’s claim during his end-of-the-year media chat in Port Harcourt on Monday, noting that joining a party did not automatically make someone its leader.
“He (Fubara) decamped to the APC with whom? What is 001? Let me tell you, there is nothing like 001 in the state. You register in your ward and local government, so if you are 001, it is in your ward.
“There is nothing like registering as 001 in the state. Everyone registers in their own ward. You could be the first person to register, but that is not your position,” Wike said.
He further asked that if Fubara claimed to be the party leader, then who should be regarded as the APC leader in Lagos State.
Also see: Emohua Remains Firmly Behind Wike, Chidi Lloyd Declares
Wike added that being a governor or minister did not automatically make someone a party leader, stressing that leadership must be earned through political influence and structure. “So, there are some exceptions to the rule. Let’s not go into other things,” he added.
The minister also argued that Fubara’s defection came late and lacked the political structure needed to strengthen the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, a sitting governor who defects usually moves with the state assembly, council chairmen, party executives and members of the National Assembly.
“But in this case, with whom did he move? These people decided to move on their own,” Wike said.
