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 defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking during an end-of-year media parley in Port Harcourt on Monday, Wike described Fubara’s move to the APC as belated and politically inconsequential, insisting that party leadership is determined by structure, not office.
“Defecting to another party does not make you the leader,” Wike said. “When you say you are joining a party, you must have something to offer.”
The former Rivers State governor maintained that his supporters still control ward and local government structures across the state, arguing that political leadership rests on grassroots influence rather than symbolic gestures.
“There’s nothing like 001,” Wike said, dismissing claims that Fubara registered as the first APC member in the state. “You register in your ward. If you are 001, it’s only in your ward. That is not leadership.”
Wike further argued that Fubara’s defection did not alter existing political realities, noting that 22 local government chairmen and more than half of the Rivers State House of Assembly members had defected to the APC before the governor made his move.
“He decamped with who?” Wike asked. “Leadership is not because you are a governor or a minister. Leadership is about what you bring to the table.”
The FCT minister also insisted that Fubara’s defection does not guarantee victory in the 2027 general elections, stressing that control of party machinery remains decisive.
Responding to suggestions that he secretly supports President Bola Tinubu through indirect means, Wike said his support has been open and costly.
“Nigerians know that in 2023, I supported the President. I didn’t hide it,” he said. “I am the most abused minister in this administration because of my support for President Tinubu.”
Wike added that the scale of defections by lawmakers aligned with him demonstrated his influence, insisting that such movement would not occur without leadership.
“If I was doing ‘corner corner,’ National Assembly members would not follow. That is leadership,” he said.
On the reported breakdown of the Rivers peace agreement brokered by President Tinubu, Wike blamed Governor Fubara, accusing him of failing to honour his commitments and being “economical with the truth” regarding his dealings with the state legislature.
Meanwhile, Wike rejected claims by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde that he promised to weaken the PDP in favour of Tinubu ahead of 2027, describing the allegation as “a blatant lie.”
“There was no such meeting,” Wike said, adding that the only interaction involving Makinde and other PDP governors after the 2023 elections was a courtesy visit to President Tinubu.
Wike also accused Makinde of misrepresenting past political events, insisting that his role was pivotal in Makinde’s emergence as governor in 2019 through the PDP structure.
“That was how Seyi Makinde became governor,” he said. “It was not about money; it was about structure.”
He concluded by describing Makinde’s claims as misleading and driven by frustration.
Blessing Ibunge
Follow us on:
