The Emeka Bekee-led All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has officially recognized Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the leader of the party in the state, citing provisions in the party constitution.
Bekee made the declaration on Wednesday during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show, amid ongoing political tensions involving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
According to Bekee, any sitting governor who joins the APC automatically assumes leadership of the party in their state. He emphasized that this position is non-negotiable.
“First and foremost, as soon as a governor joins the party, he becomes the leader. That is no contest. You have heard the national chairman and the national secretary state it clearly: the governor is the leader of the party in the state,” Bekee said.
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He added that Governor Fubara, having formally joined the APC, is the party’s number one member in Rivers State. Bekee outlined the party hierarchy, noting that President Bola Tinubu leads at the national level, while state governors who are APC members lead their respective state chapters.
Bekee also addressed Wike’s recent political activities, noting that the FCT minister is not yet a member of the APC and therefore cannot claim any leadership position within the party.
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“Right now, he is not a leader. He remains a member of the PDP. According to the APC constitution, a sitting governor who joins the party automatically becomes its leader in the state. There is no contesting the fact that Governor Fubara is currently the leader of the APC in Rivers State,” Bekee said.
He further explained that while Wike may interact with some local government chairmen, most of them are former PDP members who recently joined the APC. Bekee insisted this does not challenge Fubara’s leadership of the party in the state.
“The true position is that the Governor of Rivers State is the leader of the party here. Nobody is contesting that with him,” he concluded.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
