Wike Dismisses Fubara’s ‘001’ Claim, Says Ward Registration Does Not Confer State Leadership

|By Chinwendu Nwani

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has openly dismissed Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s claim to being the “001” of the state, describing it as misleading and without constitutional or party backing.

Wike, speaking during his end-of-the-year media parley in Port Harcourt, insisted that Fubara’s recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) does not automatically elevate him to party leadership status in Rivers State.

Governor Fubara had declared himself “001” of the APC in Rivers State after being assigned the number during his formal registration into the party. However, Wike countered that such numbering is strictly administrative and limited to ward-level registration.

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

The former Rivers State governor stressed that party registration does not translate into statewide authority, noting that every APC member registers within their respective wards. While acknowledging that a person could be the first to register, Wike argued that such timing does not define political standing or leadership.

Wike further challenged the narrative of automatic party leadership by virtue of office, questioning whether similar logic applies in other states governed by the APC.

“If he says he is the leader, then who is the leader of APC in Lagos State?” he asked, adding that leadership within political parties follows established structures and exceptions.

According to Wike, true leadership goes beyond titles or 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.

The remarks underscore ongoing tensions within Rivers State’s political landscape following Fubara’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC.