The political crisis in Rivers State has taken a fresh twist as details emerge on how Governor Siminalayi Fubara reportedly lost the support of President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress amid his prolonged face-off with his predecessor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
According to sources within the APC, the governor allegedly fell out with the Presidency and party leaders after failing to fully comply with reconciliation agreements reached during efforts to resolve the political conflict in Rivers State.
A senior member of the APC National Working Committee, who spoke anonymously, claimed that the party leadership deliberately avoided giving Fubara an official welcome after his reported defection because he lacked the endorsement of Wike.
The source stated that President Tinubu had effectively handed the political structure of Rivers State to Wike, making it difficult for Fubara to gain control within the party.
According to the APC official, Fubara’s move to align with the APC was viewed as an attempt to strengthen his chances of securing a second term in office. However, party leaders allegedly interpreted the President’s position as favoring Wike’s continued dominance over Rivers politics.
The source further disclosed that President Tinubu had advised Fubara on multiple occasions to concentrate on governance and avoid further political confrontation with Wike.
It was also gathered that during earlier impeachment attempts against Fubara, presidential intervention reportedly helped calm tensions and prevent his removal from office.
The APC insider alleged that part of the reconciliation arrangement involved an understanding that Fubara would not seek a second term as governor. According to the source, Wike’s repeated statement that “agreement is agreement” was linked to that alleged political settlement.
However, the source claimed that after returning to Port Harcourt, some political associates encouraged Fubara to continue asserting himself as the leader of Rivers politics, a move that reportedly worsened his relationship with Wike and the APC hierarchy.
Party sources also maintained that the APC leadership could not openly support Fubara’s second-term ambition because it was seen as contrary to earlier agreements and inconsistent with the President’s political direction.
Another APC chieftain reportedly revealed that Fubara may have been misled by some party figures who assured him of support from within the APC despite opposition from influential stakeholders.
According to the source, Fubara was allegedly informed that both the Presidency and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum were not backing his governorship ambition.
The insider further claimed that Fubara had little influence over the APC screening process for Rivers State House of Assembly and National Assembly aspirants, with many candidates linked to him reportedly disqualified.
Sources within the party insist that the APC structure in Rivers State remains firmly under Wike’s control and that he continues to hold significant influence over the state’s political affairs.
Meanwhile, another APC source in Abuja alleged that Fubara was not cleared by the party’s governorship screening committee, reportedly led by APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda and National Secretary Ajibola Basiru.
The source claimed that the governor left the screening venue visibly upset after allegedly being informed that he would not be allowed to contest under the party’s platform.
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