The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has clarified why Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has not yet been officially welcomed into the party.
Speaking to reporters, Yilwatda said the delay is part of a strategic plan to manage regional sensitivities, particularly in the northern states.
Fubara, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC on 9 December 2025, is waiting for the party to “clear the north first” before his full induction.
He said the party is currently preparing Kano and the northern states.
Yilwatda said in politics, regional and religious sensitivities must be respected, especially with Ramadan approaching.
He said, “Many communities in the north are Muslim,” Yilwatda explained.
According to him, the delay is not related to Fubara’s authority within the party. “That’s the reason we made that decision.”
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On claims that Fubara has struggled to assert control as the APC leader in Rivers State, Yilwatda challenged the premise, demanding evidence of any internal complaints.
He also dismissed references to support groups reportedly rallying under President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda, noting that such groups operate independently of the party’s official structures.
The questions surrounding Fubara’s leadership are rooted in the long-standing political crisis in Rivers State. His relationship with predecessor Nyesom Wike, who remains influential despite not joining the APC, collapsed following a 2023 power struggle.
The tension escalated to the point where President Tinubu declared a six-month state of emergency in the state.
Wike has argued that Fubara’s defection does not automatically make him the APC leader in Rivers, pointing out that control at the grassroots level and within party structures—many of which remain loyal to Wike—determines leadership.
The rivalry has contributed to a broader political crisis, with factions within both the APC and PDP engaging in negotiations, impeachment moves, and manoeuvres to consolidate influence ahead of the 2027 elections.
