A former governor has sparked fresh controversy in the ongoing Rivers State political crisis after questioning Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s claim to leadership within the All Progressives Congress (APC) following his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, he criticised Fubara’s declaration of himself as “001” on the APC membership register in his ward, arguing that holding executive office does not automatically confer party leadership. Drawing a comparison with Lagos State, he said the Lagos governor cannot be regarded as the political leader of the state, insisting that such authority rests with the President, a former governor of Lagos.
He also maintained that the President would not sacrifice the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for Governor Fubara amid the deepening political tension in Rivers State, describing the minister as more politically valuable to the President.
The comments triggered sharp reactions from a factional chairman of the APC in Rivers State and a civil society leader, both of whom accused the former governor of meddling in affairs outside his state. They urged him to focus on his personal political relationships and refrain from interfering in Rivers politics.
The APC chieftain dismissed the position as baseless, insisting that Fubara, as the sitting governor, remains the leader of the APC in Rivers State. The civil society advocate similarly argued that political leadership in any state naturally rests with the governor, adding that godfatherism has no place in Rivers politics.
Meanwhile, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) rejected recent claims by the FCT minister that political parties nationwide were aligning under his leadership in a so-called “rainbow coalition” to support the President’s re-election bid in 2027. IPAC described the claim as misleading, stressing that no individual has the mandate to speak or decide on behalf of registered political parties.
In a statement, IPAC said political parties are independent institutions whose decisions on alliances and endorsements can only be taken through their internal democratic processes. The council, however, noted that some parties were independently considering giving unconditional solidarity support to Governor Fubara in the interest of peace and stability in Rivers State.
The political crisis escalated last week following the initiation of impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara by 26 of the 32 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, most of whom are loyal to the former governor-turned-minister. The move has drawn widespread condemnation from various groups, who have called on lawmakers to abandon the impeachment process.
Governor Fubara formally defected to the APC in December 2025 and publicly pledged loyalty to the ruling party and the President, declaring his commitment to delivering Rivers State in the 2027 general elections. However, the FCT minister later dismissed Fubara’s “001” claim, insisting that party registration and leadership are determined at ward and local government levels, not by executive position.
As tensions persist, political stakeholders continue to trade words, raising concerns over stability, governance and party cohesion in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections.
About The Author
