Tinubu Backs Fubara as Rivers APC Leader, Party Rejects Impeachment Plot

President Bola Tinubu has thrown his weight behind Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, affirming him as the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

The move has drawn a strong reaction from the Rivers APC, which has also rejected any talk of impeachment against the governor.

This position of the Presidency comes amid the prolonged political tension in Rivers State involving Governor Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

However, the development appears to settle the internal party debate over leadership and control of the APC structure in the state.

On Thursday, the Presidency made it clear that Fubara remains the recognised leader of the APC in Rivers State.
The clarification was made public by the President’s Special Adviser on Policy and Communication, Daniel Bwala.

POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Bwala spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
He stated that President Tinubu fully supports Governor Fubara and believes the governor should be allowed to perform his constitutional duties without interference.

Bwala acknowledged the political importance of Nyesom Wike to the Tinubu administration.
However, he stressed that the FCT minister is not a member of the APC.
He added that party leadership in Rivers rests with Governor Fubara.

Following the Presidency’s position, the Rivers State chapter of the APC welcomed the clarification.
The party described it as timely and consistent with its internal rules.

In a statement issued by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Darlington Nwauju, the Rivers APC said,
“We are grateful to the President and Commander-in-Chief His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, leader of the APC party in Nigeria for sticking to our party constitution/convention by reaffirming the position of the Governor through his SA on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala Esq.”

The party said the President’s stance supports its long-held position on the matter.
It also said the clarification aligns with the direction of the APC leadership at the national level.

“This Presidential clarification has once again vindicated our uncompromising stand on this matter and aligns with the policy thrust of our national party leadership under Prof Nentawe Yilwatda and Senator (Dr) Ajibola Basiru,” the statement added.

The Rivers APC further commended President Tinubu for respecting party structure and internal democracy.
According to the party, APC governors are constitutionally recognised as leaders of the party in their respective states.

“We therefore commend the sincerity of Mr President and Commander-in-Chief to stick to party management direction which allows APC Governors to lead the party at the state level to engineer mobilization, cohesion and efficiency.”

The party insisted that Governor Fubara’s leadership of the APC in Rivers should no longer be in dispute.
It warned against narratives aimed at weakening the party in the state.

“This timely reaffirmation justifies the position of Rivers State APC on the position of the state Governor, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara as leader of our party in Rivers State and should correct any false or misleading narrative being peddled by political jobbers.”

The Rivers APC also addressed recent comments linked to impeachment threats against the governor.
It strongly condemned such views, describing them as harmful to party unity.

“Flowing from the above, we once more condemn in totality, the opinion offered by Mr Felix Morka on the impeachment process against the Governor of Rivers State and his Deputy as his opinion and suggestion contradict the core essence of party membership.”

The party went further to question Morka’s role as the National Publicity Secretary of the APC.
It accused him of failing to protect the image and objectives of the party.

“We hope that Mr Morka elects to display his democratic credentials by stepping down from his role as National Publicity Secretary of our great party for failing to protect organizational objectives as an image maker.”

In addition, the Rivers APC reminded the party’s National Working Committee of existing court rulings affecting its leadership structure in the state.
It called for immediate congresses to address lingering disputes.

“We further remind the National Working Committee of our great party of subsisting court decisions over Rivers APC leadership (please see Suit No. PHC/3592/CS/2023 & Suit No. PHC/3859/CS/2024) and request that congresses to elect new sets of leadership for the party at the Ward, LGA and State levels be scheduled immediately in order to harmonize all contending interests.”

The party also urged Governor Fubara to take decisive steps to unify stakeholders.
It said this is necessary to give the APC a clear direction ahead of future political engagements.

“Finally, we request that the Governor and leader of our party to immediately convoke a stakeholders’ meeting to give our party a direction going forward.”