BREAKING: Rivers APC Assembly Forum Backs Fubara, Passes Vote of Confidence on Party NWC

The Rivers State chapter of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has continued to witness intense political realignments and internal debates following the defection of Governor Siminalayi Fubara from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. Adding a significant voice to the unfolding developments, the APC States Assembly Forum (ASAF) has formally declared its support for the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and endorsed Governor Fubara as the undisputed leader of the APC in Rivers State.

In a statement issued on Wednesday from Kaduna, ASAF, an umbrella body comprising all elected and serving members of state Houses of Assembly on the platform of the APC across the country, threw its weight behind the NWC’s position on Rivers State. The forum also passed a vote of confidence on the national leadership of the party, led by its National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, describing the stance of the NWC as clear, constitutional, and consistent with the internal rules guiding the party.

Governor Fubara’s recent defection to the APC has been one of the most talked-about political developments in the South-South region in recent months. While the move has been welcomed by many within the ruling party as a major boost ahead of the 2027 general elections, it has also reignited old political rivalries and sparked fresh controversies, particularly involving his predecessor, former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Wike has publicly accused Governor Fubara of breaching a purported political agreement allegedly reached before President Bola Tinubu, an agreement said to have been instrumental to the lifting of Fubara’s suspension after the declaration of a six-month emergency rule in Rivers State earlier in his administration. According to Wike, that agreement included understandings about political alignments and control of party structures in the state, claims that have been strongly contested by Fubara’s supporters.

The situation escalated over the weekend when the APC National Working Committee moved to assert its authority on the matter, declaring that Governor Fubara, by virtue of being the sitting governor on the party’s platform, is the leader of the APC in Rivers State. The NWC further stated that Wike is not a member of the APC and, as such, has no locus to interfere in the internal affairs of the party.

This position did not sit well with all stakeholders, especially following comments by the party’s National Vice Chairman (South-South), Victor Giadom. Giadom had argued that Governor Fubara could not be recognised as the leader of the APC in Rivers State and suggested that the governor’s political future on the APC platform, including any re-election bid in 2027, would require the support of the FCT minister. These remarks triggered a sharp response from the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, who publicly faulted Giadom’s position.

Tensions further heightened when Wike reportedly issued a threat against Bashiru over his condemnation of Giadom’s comments, deepening concerns about the potential for a wider crisis within the party. It was against this backdrop that ASAF stepped in with a strong statement aimed at reinforcing party unity and backing the decisions of the national leadership.

In the statement signed by its Director-General, Ambassador Fubara Dagogo, ASAF emphasised that the APC is governed by a well-defined constitution that clearly outlines the party’s leadership structure at all levels. According to the forum, the constitution leaves no room for ambiguity regarding who leads the party in a state where the APC controls the governorship.

“Our great party is well structured and has a clear constitution that sets out the party’s leadership structure. So, there is no need for any dispute over the leadership of the APC in Rivers State,” the statement read. “Our NWC has addressed that, and we in ASAF believe that Governor Siminalayi Fubara is on the right track as the uncontested leader of our party in his state.”

Beyond endorsing Governor Fubara, the forum passed a vote of confidence on the APC National Working Committee, praising Professor Yilwatda and other national officers for what it described as their firm and principled handling of the Rivers State situation. ASAF noted that the statements issued by the National Chairman and National Secretary were explicit and aligned with the provisions of the APC constitution, adding that adherence to due process is essential for the stability of the party.

ASAF also used the opportunity to caution against what it termed attempts by non-APC members to sow discord within the party, particularly in strategically important states such as Rivers. The forum urged Governor Fubara and the NWC to remain focused on governance and party building, rather than being distracted by external pressures or internal provocations.

The forum commended Governor Fubara’s performance in office, stating that his style of governance and policy direction have earned him the support of a broad spectrum of Rivers State residents. According to ASAF, this popular backing further strengthens his position within the APC and justifies the NWC’s recognition of him as the party leader in the state.

In a broader warning ahead of the 2027 general elections, ASAF cautioned APC members nationwide to be vigilant against infiltration by individuals it described as members of “disorganised opposition parties.” The forum alleged that such elements might attempt to destabilise the APC by creating internal crises, under the guise of supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

“We urge our members to be vigilant because there is envy from members of the disorganised opposition parties who may try hard to infiltrate the APC and cause confusion aimed at destroying our unity, under the pretext of supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election project in 2027,” the statement said.

The forum further warned non-APC members to steer clear of the ruling party’s internal affairs, insisting that the unity currently being enjoyed by the APC has been a major factor behind the wave of defections from opposition parties. It argued that these defections have unsettled opposition figures who now seek to export their internal crises into the APC.

“Our joy, however, is that the APC is a party built on a very strong foundation, with the solid commitment of the current NWC and stakeholders, and cannot be infiltrated to create crisis and destruction as they did in their own parties,” ASAF concluded.

As political manoeuvring intensifies ahead of 2027, the Rivers State APC remains a focal point of national attention. With the endorsement of influential bodies such as the APC States Assembly Forum, Governor Siminalayi Fubara appears to be consolidating his position within the ruling party, even as debates and rival interests continue to shape the evolving political landscape in the oil-rich state.