APC Governors Declare Full Support for Fubara’s Re-Election

In a major political realignment in Rivers State, top governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have thrown their support behind Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s bid for a second term in office in 2027.

The endorsement comes barely months after Fubara defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in December 2025, amid a prolonged and bitter rift with his predecessor, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Multiple sources within the APC confirmed that several influential APC governors rallied behind Fubara, mobilising colleagues to back his re-election. This move is widely viewed as a direct challenge to Wike’s influence in Rivers politics and has reportedly deepened the frosty relationship between the two former allies.

APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, publicly declared the party’s support, urging Rivers residents to deliver overwhelming votes for both President Bola Tinubu and Governor Fubara in the 2027 elections. He emphasised that no one can frustrate an APC governor performing his duties.

APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, went further by declaring Fubara as the leader of the APC in Rivers State and pledging the party’s backing for his second-term bid, provided he emerges victorious at the primaries.

Political Realignment in the Niger Delta

The development is seen as part of a broader strategy by the APC to consolidate power in the South-South region following Fubara’s defection. Analysts say the party’s leadership, including the APC Governors’ Forum, views Fubara as a strategic asset in the oil-rich state.

A senior APC chieftain told reporters that the governors’ decision to support Fubara emboldened him to stand firm against perceived attempts by Wike to undermine his administration.

Wike has not hidden his displeasure. He reportedly views the APC’s endorsement of Fubara as a personal affront and has warned that allowing Fubara a second term would “bury” his own political structure in the state.

Reactions and Implications

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has also thrown its weight behind Fubara, describing his leadership as unifying and development-oriented.

Political observers believe the APC’s move could significantly weaken Wike’s hold on Rivers politics, especially as more PDP loyalists defect to the ruling party.

However, questions remain about how the party will manage the simmering tensions, with some wondering if President Tinubu will eventually intervene to reconcile the warring factions or allow the battle for supremacy to play out.

As the countdown to 2027 begins, Rivers State remains a political theatre to watch, with Governor Fubara now enjoying the open backing of the APC national leadership and its governors.