Gov Fubara Not Leader Of APC In Rivers State, Nothing Like 001 – Wike

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Monday December 29, 2025, rubbished claims suggesting that his still estranged political godson Governor Siminalayi Fubara is the leader of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Rivers State.

Governor Fubara had about a month ago during his formal defection to, and registration as a member  of the ruling party at the centre,  proclaimed himself as the leader of his new political nest in Rivers state .

He gleefully brandished his registration card bearing 001 as an indication that he is now the leader of the APC in the State ,as it is the practice in other States where Governors are considered to be the number one party members.

The Governor’s assertion and feelings were somewhat accentuated and buttressed by the Rivers State chapter chairman of the APC ,Chief Tony Okocha, who, while formally admitting Fubara into the party’s fold at the Government House, Port Harcourt, informed that the structures of the APC in Rivers State are now at his  beck and call

But at his monthly media chat on Monday, Wike, who is the immediate past Governor of the State, and who claims he is still a PDP member, said  there are some exceptions to the rule.

According to him, the claim by the Governor of being the one APC member in Rivers state by virtue of his position is neither here nor there.

At best ,the FCT Minister insisted that Governor Fubara can claim to be number one party member only in his Ward where he was registered.

“You registered in your ward and Local Government Area . So if you are 001 ,it is in your ward.

“There is nothing like 001 . There is nothing like I have registered in the State as 001. Everybody registered in his/her own ward . You could be the first person to register, but that does not make you the number one party member.

“In other words, who and who did he (Fubara) decamp with from the Peoples Democratic party PDP to the APC to the extent he will now be claiming to be the number one party member in Rivers state?.

“On the Governor being the leader of the APC in Rivers state, I am not aware of such a development. If, however, he is claiming so on accounts of his being the Governor of Rivers state, who then is the leader of the APC in Lagos State?

“What I am saying in effect is that much as the Governors are considered to be the leaders of the parties in their states, there are exceptions to the rule”, Wike stated.

He emphasized that there are intrinsic values and qualities that make one a leader.

He maintained that being a serving Governor does not, in any way, confer on one the status of a leader.

The Source further reports that  Wike had on Sunday, during an end of the year party in Port Harcourt , thrown a jibe at Governor Fubara to the effect that his now new found praise-singing of President Bola Tinubu will not be enough to hand him the APC ticket for the 2027 polls