The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has become the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state following his recent defection to the ruling party.
Wike made the clarification on Monday during a media parley with journalists in Port Harcourt, insisting that party leadership is determined by grassroots structures at the ward level and not by political office or status.
According to him, the concept of a centralised party register or a “001” leader does not exist within political parties, stressing that membership and authority flow from ward-based registration.
“There is nothing like 001 in the state. You register in your ward, and your local government is in your ward. Everybody registers in his own ward. Being governor does not automatically make you the leader of the party,” Wike said.
While acknowledging that governors often assume leadership roles within their parties in principle, the former Rivers governor argued that leadership must be earned and not imposed by virtue of office alone. “Leadership is not because I am a governor. You must have something that makes you a leader,” he added.
Wike attributed the lingering political crisis in Rivers State to the failure to honour agreements reached during reconciliation efforts aimed at resolving disputes between the governor and the state legislature. He said the breakdown of trust led to recent tensions, including accusations by the governor that he was interfering in state affairs.
Countering the claims, Wike said Governor Fubara was fully aware of meetings held between lawmakers, party leaders and elders to restore peace, describing the governor’s public statements as misleading.
“The governor cannot say there was no meeting between the speaker and the leadership of the House. He was present. I don’t like politicians who don’t say the truth,” he stated.
Wike further accused the governor of failing to demonstrate basic political courtesies that foster party unity, noting that sincere engagement requires deliberate actions.
“Nobody told me to go and thank the Assembly for their support. Nobody told me to call the speaker to wish him Merry Christmas. These are things serious politicians do,” he said.
The minister also dismissed speculations that his working relationship with FCT Senator, Ireti Kingibe, had collapsed, explaining that disagreements in the Senate do not negate ongoing collaboration.
