President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has said that Governor Siminalayi Fubara is the recognised leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, insisting that former governor Nyesom Wike is not a member of the ruling party and therefore cannot speak for it.
Bwala made the remarks on Channels Television’s Hard Copy on Thursday, against the backdrop of the political crisis in Rivers State and ongoing impeachment moves against Fubara.
He said the position of the APC national leadership is clear, noting that Governor Fubara, as the sitting APC governor in the state, is the party’s leader in Rivers.
Bwala added that while Wike may retain influence within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he has no standing within the APC.
He also said President Tinubu supports internal party processes and the rule of law, and that the party expects the governor to be allowed to carry out his constitutional duties without obstruction.
On the impeachment proceedings, Bwala said court orders had halted the process and stressed that the APC’s position is that Fubara should not be prevented from governing.
He further clarified that Wike’s position as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory does not give him authority within the APC, describing his role as service to the Federal Government rather than party leadership.
Fubara, who defected to the APC in December 2025, has been endorsed by the party for a second term in 2027. The Rivers State House of Assembly recently initiated impeachment proceedings against him and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, over allegations of gross misconduct.
Keywords: Rivers politics, APC leadership, Siminalayi Fubara, Nyesom Wike, Rivers impeachment
