You’re not 001 – Wike dismisses claim of Fubara as APC leader in Rivers

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has rejected claims that Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, is the political leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, following the governor’s recent defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Wike also criticised Fubara’s declaration as the “001” of Rivers State, describing it as meaningless within the party’s structure.

Fubara had made the claim after joining the APC, where he was reportedly issued membership number 001 during his registration in Rivers State.

Speaking at his end-of-year media parley in Port Harcourt, Wike questioned the basis of the claim, stating that party registration does not confer statewide leadership.

“He decamped to APC with who? What is 001?” Wike said. “There is nothing like 001 in the state. You register in your ward and local government. If you are 001, it is in your ward.”

He explained that party membership numbers are limited to wards and do not translate into state-level authority.

“Everybody registers in their own ward. You could be the first person to register, but that is not your position,” he added.

On the issue of party leadership, Wike said governorship alone does not automatically make someone the leader of a political party in a state.

“I don’t know about that,” he said, responding to claims that Fubara now leads the APC in Rivers. “If that is the case, who is the leader of APC in Lagos State?”

Wike noted that party leadership follows established structures and is not solely determined by public office.

“Leadership is not because I’m a governor. Leadership is not because I’m a minister. You must have something that makes you a leader,” he said.