The Rivers State faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Emeka Beke has welcomed President Bola Tinubu’s affirmation of Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the leader of the party in the state, describing the development as a clear validation of its long-standing position amid protracted internal disputes.
In a press statement released on Friday and signed by the faction’s spokesman, Darlington Nwauju, the group said the affirmation, communicated through the President’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, underscored Tinubu’s respect for the APC constitution and long-established party conventions.
According to the Rivers APC leadership, the President’s position reinforces the principle that APC governors are expected to lead the party in their respective states in order to promote unity, effective mobilisation and organisational coherence.
The faction said the clarification was consistent with the policy direction of the party’s national leadership and should finally dispel what it described as “false and misleading narratives” surrounding the leadership structure of the APC in Rivers State.
The statement also took a swipe at comments attributed to the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, particularly on issues related to the impeachment process involving Governor Fubara and his deputy. The Rivers APC faction described the remarks as personal opinions that were inconsistent with the ideals of party discipline and collective responsibility.
It further called on Morka to vacate his position, accusing him of failing to protect the organisational interests and objectives of the party at a critical time.
Additionally, the faction urged the APC’s National Working Committee to give due consideration to existing court rulings on the leadership of the Rivers State chapter and to immediately conduct congresses at the ward, local government and state levels to reconcile opposing interests and stabilise the party.
The group also appealed to Governor Fubara, in his capacity as leader of the APC in Rivers State, to convene a stakeholders’ meeting aimed at setting a clear direction and restoring internal harmony within the party.
What you should know
The leadership crisis within the Rivers State APC has persisted for months, fuelled by competing factions and disagreements over control of party structures.
President Bola Tinubu’s affirmation of Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the party’s leader in the state reinforces the APC’s tradition of governors providing political leadership at the state level.
The development is significant as it strengthens Fubara’s standing amid ongoing political tensions, including impeachment controversies, and places pressure on the party’s national leadership to resolve internal disputes through congresses and stakeholder engagement.
