New battlefront opens in Rivers over APC National Convention delegates list

New battlefront opens in Rivers over APC National Convention delegates list

By The Neighbourhood Newspaper
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With the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress, APC, fixed for March 27 – 28, 2026, at the Eagle Square, Abuja, a new vista of wheeler-dealing has opened in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

As the Aminu Bello Masari-led Convention Planning Committee takes the reins in Abuja, a volatile new warfront has opened in Rivers State. The conflict centres on a high-stakes struggle for the “soul” of the state’s delegation, pitting the officially recognized party leader, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, against the shadow influence of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

​Despite Wike’s repeated public assertions that he remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, an investigative look into the APC’s internal power structure reveals a startling paradox: while Wike is not a registered APC member, he currently commands the loyalty of nearly 80% of the state’s statutory delegates – his “Men Fridays” who hold automatic voting rights at the upcoming March 2026 National Convention.

Wike, who claims to be the leader of a combo of members of his PDP and APC in what he called “Rainbow Coalition”, so far overseas through ​the “shadow commander” strategy.
In this scenario, Wike’s strategic objective is clear: control the 69 elected (ad-hoc) delegates to be chosen during the upcoming LGA Congresses. ​Sources within the Wike-aligned Tony Okocha faction reveal that the Minister’s strategy is to use his loyalists within the statutory ranks to “capture” the ad-hoc delegate seats. If successful, Wike would effectively control the Rivers vote in Abuja, potentially using it as leverage in national party negotiations, all while officially remaining in the PDP. For him, he must have the 69 ad-hoc delegates while the leader of APC in Rivers State, being Gov. Fubara, should have none, or at best, allow him the three ad-hoc delegates from Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Local Government, the Governor’s home council.

Already, Wike’s men hold the greater chunk of the statutory lineup.

​The “war of the list” is fueled by the sheer number of pro-Wike officials who have successfully migrated into the APC statutory delegate fold. Under the APC Constitution, these individuals do not need to be elected; they simply walk into the convention to cast their ballots. During the Friday reshuffle on the APC National Convention Planning Committee from its 73 membership to 90, Senator Barinada Mpigi, one of Wike’s men, was appointed into the NCPC.

​The pro-Wike statutory bloc includes the 27 members of the State House of Assembly
​led by Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule. The 27 lawmakers defected to the APC specifically to provide a legislative shield for Wike’s interests. Though their seats are legally contested, the APC National Secretariat currently recognises them as statutory delegates.

Others are Wike’s ​National Assembly loyalists that include Sen. Mpigi and Sen. Allwell Onyesoh, both of whom recently defected to the APC. Those are long-standing Wike associates. The third Senator, Ipalibo Banigo, Rivers West, remains a member of the PDP and is not a delegate for the APC convention. Among the lost are former Senators Magnus Ngei Abe and Wilson Ake, two die-hard Wike puppets.

Also in the list of automatic delegates are Dr. Dawari Ibietela George(Asari TorAkuku/Toru), (Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke(Etche/Omuma), a former Commissioner and veteran journalist; Hon. Elder Chidi Wihioka(Ikwerre/Emohua), a seasoned grassroots mobilizer; and Hon. Maurice Pronen(Khana/Gokana). With Senator Andrew Uchendu and Hon. Asita Okorie Asita joining former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and Dr. Dakuku Peterside incommunicado, as this medium made attempts to reach him but was unable, Wike still has those “older horses” at his beck-and-call .

From the ​House of Representatives, Hon. Dumnamene Dekor and Hon. Solomon Bob act as the Minister’s “eyes and ears” in the Green Chamber. Others are Hon. Victor Obuzor(Ahoada West/Ogba-Egbema/Ndoni),
Hon. Blessing Amadi(Port Harcourt II), Hon. Felix Nwaeke( Eleme/Oyigbo/Tai), Hon. Boniface Emerengwa(Ikwerre/Emohua), Hon. Umezuruike Manuchim(Port Harcourt I), who joined from the Labour Party.

Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante (Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro) and Hon. Boma Goodhead (Asari-Toru/Akuku-Toru) are core-Fubara loyalists. Hon. Goodhead, a blood sibling to Mujahid Dokino Asari, is a member of the NCPC.

Rivers APC State Executive Committee is divided as one faction is under Mr. Emeka Beke, while the other, somewhat but strangely recognised by APC’s National Secretariat, is led by ​Tony Okocha. He serves as Wike’s primary liaison within the party hierarchy, despite Governor Fubara’s recent defection and claim to leadership.

​While Wike is working to hold an absolute swa in the Rivers’ delegates list, this medium has been informed about some “unforeseen wheels in the spanner”. In the course of reaching out to sources prior to this report, Darlington Nwauju, the State Publicity Secretary of APC under Mr. Beke’s State Executive Committee, said that a decision concerning the upcoming Abuja National Convention would be taken at their next meeting. It was learnt through some contacts at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, that some petitions from Rivers State have already begun to land on the NCPC’s table.

Another insider source told this medium that while Wike appears to be angling to hijack the 69 ad-hoc delegates, the National Secretariat of the ruling party is calling for a ​harmonised list. The demand is that for the Masari Committee should vet the membership of every statutory delegate to ensure they are not “double agents” holding allegiance to a PDP Minister.

​The fight is now concentrated on the 69 elected delegates (3 per each of the 23 LGAs).

While the elected delegates (the 3 per LGA mentioned earlier) total 69 for Rivers, the statutory delegates significantly boost the state’s total presence. Given the mass defection of state lawmakers and the governor’s alignment, Rivers is expected to have one of the most influential statutory blocs from the South-South.

Whatever it eventually turns out to be, Wike is desperate to hold to the source of the Rivers’ delegation to APC’s National Convention. He knows that the same list shall serve him a special role during the governorship primary election in Rivers State. If incumbent Governor Fubara goes to seek a return ticket by going to the party primaries, Wike, who swore to undermine him, shall rely on these same men and women for the hatchet job. From every indication, Gov. Fubara is in for a long walk.