Abuja, Nigeria — Former governorship candidate of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, has said Governor Siminalayi Fubara is not politically safe following his defection to the APC through a faction Cole described as illegitimate.
The warning came during an interview on Channels Television in the wake of heightened factional disputes within the party in the state.
Cole said the faction led by Tony Okocha, which presented Fubara with his APC membership card after his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in December 2025, lacks legal recognition. He maintained that the only legally recognised leadership of the APC in Rivers State is that of Emeka Beke, whose faction has won court cases affirming its status.
“Who is welcoming him (Fubara) to the APC? Who is the one issuing him the membership card? Where is he registered under? Now, Tony Okocha is not a legally recognised faction of the APC, and that is where the problem is,” Cole said.
“Even though he (Fubara) is recognised nationally as a member of the APC, the group that has welcomed him is not legally recognised. He should come. We will recognise and welcome him because we have the legal standing to do so. He is not safe where he is.”
Cole acknowledged that Fubara’s decision to leave the PDP and join the APC was an “astute political move” that was broadly welcomed within the party nationally. However, he stressed that adherence to legally recognised structures at the state level is essential to avoid future political and legal complications.
The dispute over APC leadership in Rivers State has long drawn legal and political scrutiny, with court rulings affirming the Beke-led faction as the legitimate leadership and other factions contesting that status.
Cole warned that failing to resolve internal disputes could expose the party to legal setbacks similar to the 2019 Rivers election crisis, when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was barred from recognising APC candidates due to internal party conflicts.
The broader political environment in Rivers State remains tense, with ongoing impeachment proceedings against Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, by the Rivers State House of Assembly, and calls from various civic groups for calm and constitutional processes.
Though not directly linked to the APC factional dispute, these developments have compounded political uncertainties in the state.
Legal experts say that internal party cohesion and clarity around recognised leadership are critical to maintaining political stability and electoral credibility, particularly ahead of the 2027 general elections, where Rivers State is expected to play a significant role.
Observers note that disputes over legitimacy and factional control could have implications for party performance and governance continuity in the state.
As of publication, neither the national leadership of the APC nor the official Rivers State APC leadership under Emeka Beke had issued a formal response to Cole’s comments.
