…Rivers APC Leaders Rally for Wike, Vow to Isolate Fubara if…
By Jeremy Fregene
The political battle for control of Rivers State took a dramatic turn on Tuesday as the National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), South South, Victor Giadom, openly declared that Governor Siminalayi Fubara cannot win anything in the state without the backing of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Giadom made the statement during Wike’s “Thank You” visit to Gokana Local Government Area, where he described the former Rivers governor as the undisputed political force in the area and a “dependable leader” in the state’s power equation.
Speaking before a cheering crowd, the APC chieftain said Gokana had already made its political choice and would not entertain any rival influence, including that of the sitting governor.
“I guarantee, on behalf of my brothers, that the Gokana people are for Wike and Tinubu and nobody will challenge Wike’s influence in Gokana,” Giadom said. “Gokana is a no-go area for anybody, even Governor Fubara. For him to win anything in Gokana, he must pass through Wike.”
The remarks came against the backdrop of an intensifying rivalry between Wike and Fubara, a feud the FCT minister himself admitted on Monday was far from over. Wike had dismissed suggestions that tensions between them had eased, insisting that “all can never be well in politics.”
The conflict resurfaced after Fubara, following his defection to the APC, accused unnamed political actors of supporting President Bola Tinubu “corner, corner,” a comment widely interpreted as a swipe at Wike, who remains in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite working openly for the APC-led federal government.
Reacting, Wike said there was nothing secret about his support for Tinubu, stressing that his position had always been clear and public. He also rejected claims that Fubara’s defection automatically made him leader of the APC in Rivers State, arguing that leadership was earned, not assumed by title or office.
That tension was palpable in Gokana, where Wike’s allies closed ranks around him. Former senator representing Rivers South East, Magnus Abe, told the crowd that the people of Gokana had already chosen their political allies.
“The people of Gokana have chosen their friends: Wike and Tinubu,” Abe said. “Wike is a leader that unites, and that is why we are united. If you follow Wike, you will not go home empty-handed. Please tell Tinubu not to bother coming to Gokana to campaign. We are already for him.”
The Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Dumle Maol, echoed the same sentiment, assuring Wike of unwavering loyalty. “Anywhere you go, we will go,” he said.
Chairman of Gokana Local Government Area, Confidence Deko, also pledged total support, thanking Wike for his contributions to the area and promising political payback. “This local government is for you because of what you have done for us. The time for payback is near, and we will do the needful,” he said.
Responding, Wike said the visit was to appreciate the people of Gokana for their consistent support over the years. He commended their unity and urged them to remain patient and follow the direction of their leaders when the time comes.
He also revealed that both APC and PDP structures in Rivers State were aligned under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, pointing to the unusual political convergence on display at the event.
“That is why you see PDP and APC members here,” Wike said, reinforcing the message that, in Rivers politics, alliances, not party labels, ultimately determine who holds power.
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