By Charles Pemu 
The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress has officially signaled its unwavering support for the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, following a series of intense political realignments and renewed friction between the Governor and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. This high-level endorsement serves as a significant milestone in the state’s political landscape, reinforcing Fubara’s standing as the definitive head of the ruling party in the oil-rich region.
The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Ajibola Basiru, emphasized that the party remains firmly behind Governor Fubara’s administration and his future electoral aspirations. Basiru remarked that no external influence could successfully undermine the position of an incumbent governor under the party’s banner, praising Fubara for his commitment to delivering developmental projects and maintaining efficient governance despite the persistent political headwinds in the state.
This wave of support follows Governor Fubara’s strategic defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress on December 9, 2025. The transition, which included the movement of seventeen members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to the ruling party, was widely perceived as a proactive measure to safeguard his second-term bid. The National Chairman of the party, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, further solidified this position by officially recognizing Fubara as the party leader in Rivers State, urging for coordinated efforts among all stakeholders to ensure state-wide progress.
In response to these developments, Minister Nyesom Wike has intensified his rhetoric, suggesting that the Governor’s entry into the party does not provide a guaranteed path to re-election. During a public address, Wike characterized the 2023 electoral outcome as a mistake and vowed to resist what he termed opportunistic politics. He maintained that his loyalists continue to control the core local government and ward structures throughout Rivers State, setting the stage for a potential showdown during future primary contests.
However, senior officials within the national secretariat have dismissed the Minister’s ability to dictate the party’s internal trajectory. High-ranking party sources indicate that the final decision regarding the state’s political future rests with the Presidency and the national leadership rather than any single individual. These officials highlighted that incumbents seeking re-election typically benefit from significant structural advantages, noting that the party’s priority is to strengthen its hold on the South-South region through stability and unity.
As the political atmosphere in Rivers State remains charged, the public stance of the national leadership underscores a clear shift in the power balance. By identifying with Governor Fubara’s vision and leadership, the party aims to minimize internal friction and present a unified front. While the Minister continues to assert his influence among grassroots supporters, the institutional weight of the national headquarters is currently tilted in favor of the sitting Governor, suggesting a calculated effort to maintain order ahead of the 2026 and 2027 electoral cycles.