The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticized Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, over his claim of being the “001” of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state following his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking during his end-of-the-year media chat in Port Harcourt on Monday, Wike dismissed suggestions that Governor Fubara had emerged as the leader of the APC in Rivers State, insisting that such a position does not exist based on party registration procedures.
Fubara had earlier declared himself “001” after being issued the membership number during his registration with the APC in the state.
However, Wike questioned the basis of the claim, saying, “He (Fubara) decamped to APC with whom? What is 001? Let me tell you, there’s nothing like 001 in the state.
“You register in your ward and local government, so if you are 001, it’s in your ward.
“There’s nothing like 001. There’s nothing like what I have registered in the state as 001. Everybody registered in their own ward. You could be the first person to register, but that’s not your position.”
On the issue of party leadership, Wike said the governor’s claim was unfounded, adding, “I don’t know about that because if he says so, who is the leader of APC in Lagos state?
“So, there are some exceptions to the rule, so let’s not go into other things. See, leadership is not because I’m a governor. Leadership is not because I’m a minister. You must have something that makes you a leader.”
Wike further argued that Fubara’s defection came late and lacked the political structure needed to strengthen the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
He noted that before the governor left the PDP, about 22 local government chairmen and nearly half of the Rivers State House of Assembly members had already defected to the APC.
According to the minister, “As a governor, he has the State Assembly to move with, he has the council chairmen, the party chairmen, and members of the National Assembly to move with. But in this case, with whom did he move? These people decided to move on their own,” he said.
Wike also dismissed claims that the governor’s supporters chanting loyalty translated into political advantage, stating, “Shouting ‘on your mandate we shall stand’ does not imply automatic ticket. It doesn’t mean that.”
He rejected reports of celebrations at Government House following Fubara’s defection, emphasizing that proper party procedures must be observed when joining a new political party.
The former Rivers governor said that when he eventually leaves the PDP, his supporters across several states would follow him, stressing that leadership is measured by the ability to mobilize people.
Responding to Fubara’s earlier comment that supporters of President Bola Tinubu should not operate “corner by corner,” Wike said his loyalty to the President has been open and costly.
“Nigerians know that in 2023, I supported the President. I didn’t hide it. If I were doing ‘corner corner,’ Assembly members and National Assembly members would not have gone with me. That is leadership,” he said.
Wike also expressed confidence that the PDP would lose the FCT in the next election, attributing his view to President Tinubu’s policies and performance.
On the reported collapse of the peace agreement brokered by President Tinubu in Rivers State, Wike accused Governor Fubara of failing to uphold the terms of the truce and misrepresenting his relationship with the State Assembly leadership.
“What stops you from calling the Speaker to ask how he is, or calling members of the Assembly to wish them a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year? You don’t have to wait for me to tell you to do that,” Wike said.
