The All Progressives Congress (APC) Director of Information, Bala Ibrahim, has said that if Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, decides to join the party, he will fall under the leadership of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Ibrahim stressed that Wike cannot claim a leadership position in the party because he is no longer governor. However, he noted that Wike would still be given a place in the APC if he chooses to join.
Speaking in an interview on Trust TV on Wednesday, Ibrahim said,
“He will be given a seat, there will be a place for him. It’s a choice for him to be under Fubara. If you follow, you will be followed, but if you don’t follow, nobody is going to follow you. When he was governor, he was followed; now that he is not, he must follow. You can’t carry the position of leadership after vacating the seat. He can’t get what he wants all the time; if you go against the laid down regulations, you can’t get what you want.”
The comments come amid ongoing tensions between Wike and Fubara over control of Rivers State politics. Wike, who played a key role in Fubara’s rise to the governorship, has accused him of breaching their agreement. He also recently threatened the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, to stay away from Rivers politics.
The dispute intensified after Bashiru criticized the APC South‑South National Vice Chairman, Hon. Victor Giadom, who had referred to Fubara as the “so‑called governor” of Rivers State during a recent visit by Wike to Gokana Local Government Area.
Ibrahim’s statement reinforces that while Wike may be welcomed into the APC, his political influence within the party will now be subordinate to Governor Fubara, and joining the party does not guarantee him a return ticket in 2027.
