Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, is receiving growing backing from several All Progressives Congress (APC) governors as tensions escalate with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike over the state’s 2027 governorship race.
According to party sources, the renewed confrontation stems from APC leaders openly endorsing Fubara’s second-term bid. This support has strengthened his standing within the national party hierarchy and reportedly complicated Wike’s calculations in the state. Several governors and top APC figures are said to have praised the scale and quality of Fubara’s development initiatives.
Political insiders noted that friction between Wike and Fubara intensified following Wike’s alleged support for Samuel Anyanwu, former PDP National Secretary, for the Imo State governorship without consultation with APC Governor Hope Uzodimma, who chairs the APC Governors Forum. The move reportedly prompted several APC governors to rally behind Fubara and resist what they viewed as undue interference.
The APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, has also openly backed Fubara amid the dispute. In a recent statement, he urged Wike to focus on his ministerial duties rather than Rivers politics, describing the former governor’s preoccupation as unhealthy. Basiru emphasized that his authority as APC National Secretary covers party matters nationwide, including Rivers State, and dismissed Wike’s comments as overreach.
Sources reveal that assurances of support from APC governors have emboldened Fubara, signaling his readiness to challenge Wike’s long-standing influence in Rivers politics. The alignment reflects a broader strategy to protect the party’s internal cohesion and curb external interference in state affairs.
Basiru has also cautioned APC South-South Chairman Victor Giadom against undermining Fubara, reiterating that National Working Committee members must remain neutral during internal disputes. Giadom had earlier suggested that no candidate could succeed in Gokana Local Government Area without Wike’s backing, a statement that Basiru publicly challenged for diminishing Fubara’s political credibility.
Highlighting Fubara’s governance record, Basiru praised the governor for effective leadership and the delivery of quality projects across Rivers State. He called on residents to support both the APC and Fubara ahead of the 2027 elections, framing votes as a reflection of policy performance rather than allegiance to individuals.
Meanwhile, Wike, during a recent visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area, warned against political interference in the state, stressing that outsiders should refrain from making reckless political statements and not assume automatic support for President Bola Tinubu. Basiru, however, dismissed these warnings, reaffirming his constitutional authority over APC matters and reiterating that he cannot be intimidated.
The standoff underscores the deepening political divide in Rivers State, with APC governors consolidating behind Fubara while Wike attempts to assert his influence. Observers suggest the situation highlights the complexities of state and national party dynamics, emphasizing that leadership legitimacy ultimately derives from both governance performance and constitutional authority within party structures.
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