- APC leadership had delayed formally welcoming Fubara to manage northern sensitivities ahead of Ramadan
- The party chairman had dismissed claims that Fubara lacked authority or faced internal complaints in Rivers State
- Fubara’s defection from the PDP in December 2025 had fueled political tension ahead of the 2027 elections
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has clarified why Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has not yet been formally welcomed into the party.
Speaking on TVC on Sunday, APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda attributed the delay to strategic considerations aimed at managing regional sensitivities, particularly in northern states ahead of the Ramadan period.
“We have Kano we’re preparing for. When you’re dealing in politics, we opted to clear the north first because Ramadan is coming and most of the people in the north are Muslims,” Yilwatda said. “We have a lot of communities in the north that are sensitive to the issue of Ramadan. So we pleaded that we clear the northern governors who have to come to the APC first before going to the south, where we don’t have Ramadan as an issue.”
The party chairman emphasised that the postponement is not a reflection of Fubara’s authority within the APC. “So these are strategies and also acknowledge the sensitivity of each community. That’s the reason we took that decision. It has nothing to do with Siminalayi Fubara not having authority,” he added.
Yilwatda also dismissed suggestions that Fubara has struggled to assert control as APC leader in Rivers State. He challenged the premise of such claims, insisting no formal complaint or petition had been lodged against the governor.
“Is that what you’re told? I’m the national chairman. Who complained to you? What petition? I want you to give me one petition. Has he complained to you?” Yilwatda asked. “When somebody has not complained, and we’ve not seen a physical petition, the media should not create a petition. And they become the petitioners, the judge, and the jailer at the same time.”
The chairman further clarified that support groups backing President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda in Rivers State operate independently of APC structures. “Support groups are separate from party activities. Is it under the office of the chairman of the party?” he said.
The debate over Fubara’s role comes amid ongoing political tension in Rivers State. His relationship with his predecessor, former Governor Nyesom Wike, deteriorated following a 2023 power struggle that led President Bola Tinubu to declare a six-month state of emergency in the state.
Fubara officially joined the APC on 9 December 2025, a move widely interpreted as part of his campaign to secure a second term in 2027 and consolidate support after falling out with Wike. However, Wike continues to wield significant influence in Rivers, and has publicly questioned whether Fubara’s defection alone confers automatic party leadership in the state, citing the continued presence of PDP-aligned grassroots structures.
The political realignment has contributed to a broader crisis in Rivers, with rival factions within both the APC and PDP engaging in negotiations, impeachment efforts, and other manoeuvres to stabilise the state ahead of the 2027 elections.