From Victor Osula, Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has explained why Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has yet to be formally received into the party nearly two months after his defection, saying the delay is deliberate and driven by political strategy rather than any internal dispute.
Governor Fubara announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC on December 9, 2025. However, the ruling party has yet to formally receive him, a delay that has fuelled widespread speculation over the reasons behind the postponement.
Speaking on Sunday during an interview on TVC, the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, said the party’s decision was informed by timing and regional sensitivities, particularly as Ramadan approaches in the northern part of the country.
According to Yilwatda, the APC is currently prioritising political engagements in the North, including preparations for activities in Kano, noting that Ramadan requires careful consideration given the religious composition of the region.
“We have Kano we’re preparing for. In politics, you must understand timing. Ramadan is approaching, and most of the people in the North are Muslims. We have communities that are sensitive to this period, so we decided to clear the northern states first before moving to the South, where Ramadan is not an issue”, he said.
Yilwatda stressed that the postponement should not be interpreted as a snub or an indication that Governor Fubara lacks authority or acceptance within the party.
“These are purely strategic considerations. It has nothing to do with Siminalayi Fubara lacking authority”, he added.
Reacting to reports suggesting that the Rivers governor has struggled to assert himself as the APC leader in the state, the national chairman dismissed the claims, insisting that no formal complaint has been brought before the party leadership.
“I’m the national chairman. Who complained? Where is the petition? When nobody has complained and there’s no formal petition, the media should not invent one and then become the petitioner, the judge and the jailer at the same time”, he queried.
Yilwatda also responded to comments attributed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, about political actors in Rivers State rallying around President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda. He clarified that such alignments do not amount to official APC party activities.
“Support groups are not party activities. Are they operating under the office of the party chairman?” he asked.
Governor Fubara’s defection comes against the backdrop of a prolonged political crisis in Rivers State following the breakdown of his relationship with his predecessor, Wike, after the 2023 political fallout. The crisis, which at its peak led President Bola Tinubu to declare a six-month state of emergency in the state, has continued to shape political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, Wike, who remains a powerful figure in Rivers politics despite not being a member of the APC, has disputed claims that Fubara’s defection automatically makes him the leader of the party in Rivers State, arguing that party leadership must be anchored on grassroots structures.
The disagreement has further heightened political tension in the state, with rival factions within the APC and PDP navigating impeachment threats, negotiations and shifting alliances as the 2027 elections draw closer.
