The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda, has outlined conditions under which Governor Sim Fubara would enjoy his support, even as he acknowledged the governor as the party’s leader in Rivers State.
Yilwatda’s position comes amid renewed political tension between Governor Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over the leadership structure of the party in the state.
Following his defection to the APC, Fubara had declared himself the “001” of the party in Rivers State, a claim that intensified the rivalry between both camps.
Wike, however, dismissed the governor’s assertion, insisting that he remains in control of the political structure in the state, particularly as the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party have aligned to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Reacting to the development, the APC National Chairman said his backing for Fubara’s second-term ambition would depend strictly on the outcome of the party’s primary election.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Hard Copy, Yilwatda said: “Governor Fubara is the leader of the APC in Rivers State, but he would need to coordinate with every other person in the state.
“I don’t choose who to support in the state’s primary election. If Fubara emerges as the APC candidate, I’ll support him.
“If he loses the primary, I’ll sympathise with him and go with the person who wins the primary election.”
