APC Leadership Governors Seek to Contain Wike Amid Rivers State Tensions

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Fresh political undercurrents are shaping the landscape in Rivers State as leaders of the All Progressives Congress deliberate on how to manage growing tensions linked to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Party insiders suggest that consultations are ongoing at the highest levels to prevent further internal strain, particularly within the state chapter.

At the centre of the disagreement is the political future of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The APC’s public backing of Fubara’s potential second-term ambition has reportedly unsettled Wike, who once played a decisive role in installing him as governor under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party during the 2023 elections.

The relationship between the two men began to fracture months after Fubara assumed office, with disputes emerging over governance influence and resource control. What started as quiet disagreements escalated into open confrontation, impeachment threats, and eventually the imposition of emergency rule in March 2025, during which both the governor and state lawmakers were temporarily suspended.

Following the restoration of normal governance, political alignments shifted dramatically. Fubara’s eventual move from the PDP to the APC in December 2025 reportedly caught many observers off guard, including Wike. Within the ruling party, some figures described the switch as a strategic surprise that altered the balance of power in Rivers politics.

Support for Fubara within the APC has not been limited to state actors. Senior members of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration—including Kashim Shettima and Nuhu Ribadu—are said to have aligned with the pro-Fubara position. National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda has also recognised the governor as the party’s leader in Rivers State.

Behind closed doors, however, discussions are reportedly intensifying. A prominent APC governor from the South-East is believed to be coordinating efforts among dissatisfied stakeholders, including ministers and party leaders, who are concerned about what they see as Wike’s confrontational posture. Particular attention has been drawn to his recent criticism of APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru.

Sources indicate that a collective position may soon be presented to President Tinubu upon his return from his year-end trip abroad. The proposal would reportedly urge him to clarify where his support lies, a move some insiders describe as placing the President in a delicate situation between party unity and loyalty to Wike.

Despite the mounting pressure, Wike has continued his political engagements across Rivers State, mobilising support for Tinubu’s re-election campaign. At the same time, he has maintained that an earlier understanding bars Fubara from pursuing another term, insisting that agreements must be honoured. According to individuals familiar with party dynamics, that arrangement was forged under a different political platform, and circumstances have since changed.

As the situation unfolds, Rivers State remains a focal point of national political calculations, with both alliances and rivalries shaping the next phase of its leadership trajectory.