Ex-Governor questions Fubara’s ‘001’ claim in Rivers: asks if Sanwo-Olu can assume leadership in Lagos

Ex-Governor questions Fubara’s ‘001’ claim in Rivers: asks if Sanwo-Olu can assume leadership in Lagos

Former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, has challenged assertions of political supremacy in Rivers State, taking aim at Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s claim of being “001” in the All Progressives Congress (APC) within the state.

Fayose made the remarks during an exclusive appearance on Arise TV on Tuesday, where he questioned the idea that sitting governors automatically command party leadership.

He compared the situation in Rivers with Lagos State, contending that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu does not wield ultimate political authority there.

According to Fayose, that influence belongs to President Bola Tinubu, a former Lagos governor.

To illustrate his argument, Fayose referenced the recent impeachment and subsequent reinstatement of the Lagos State House of Assembly speaker, portraying the development as proof of Tinubu’s decisive control over the state’s political machinery.

He said, “The president that I know hates ingratitude; he controls Lagos from the palms of his hands. For instance, the speaker was impeached, and another person took over in Lagos State. The president, without saying a word, caused the system to restore that speaker because it’s an affront to the president, who is the leader.

“Will you tell me Sanwo-Olu is the leader in Lagos? Let him come out and say he’s the leader in the state. There are certain things that are said to cause aesthetics. Don’t let it get to your head.”

Fayose also argued that the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State ultimately worked in Fubara’s favour, describing it as a political rescue that prevented his removal from office.

According to him, impeachment would have ended the governor’s political trajectory.

“The emergency rule was all-winning for Governor Fubara because by now he would have been history because the moment you’re impeached, you are out of the way and can’t contest,” Fayose said.

“If you read the contest of President Tinubu, he took Governor Fubara to the cleaners, and it’s time for Governor Fubara to learn, the way I learnt after my first tenure as governor.”

Fayose’s comments come against the backdrop of a prolonged power struggle between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, over dominance of Rivers State’s political structure.

In December 2025, Fubara left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC. At the flag-off of the Rivers Airport Bypass Project on December 12, he openly pledged allegiance to the ruling party and to President Tinubu.

“Today, I am very happy. I am not just a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC); I am the number one. I have collected my [membership] card, and the form is 001,” Fubara said.

“So, from this moment, I am there [in APC] with all my chest and heart. The message is clear: we are going to do everything to make the 2027 election for Mr President a smooth ride in Rivers State.

“How do we do it? It is with all of you here. With your support. The only way we can continue to tell Mr President thank you is to support him.”

His defection followed the move by 15 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, including Speaker Martin Amaewhule, to the APC.

However, Wike later rejected Fubara’s assertion of party leadership, maintaining that APC membership and recognition are determined at the ward and local government levels, not by statewide titles.

He stressed that holding executive office does not automatically confer party leadership.

“He (Fubara) decamped to APC with whom? What is 001? Let me tell you, there’s nothing like 001 in the state,” Wike said.

“You register in your ward and local government, so if you are 001, it’s in your ward.

“There’s nothing like 001. There’s nothing like what I have registered in the state as 001. Everybody registered in their own ward. You could be the first person to register, but that’s not your position.

“So, there are some exceptions to the rule, so let’s not go into other things. See, 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,” Wike added.