The political landscape in Rivers State has shifted once again as loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have reportedly clinched all the available All Progressives Congress (APC) tickets for the upcoming House of Assembly bye-elections.
The results, which emerged late today, Monday, 26 January 2026, have sent ripples through the camp of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, signaling a strategic consolidation of power by the Wike faction within the state’s main opposition party.
The APC primary elections were held to fill several vacant seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly, seats that became the subject of intense legal and political battles throughout 2024 and 2025.
The victorious candidates are almost exclusively individuals who have publicly declared their “unalloyed loyalty” to Nyesom Wike, despite his official membership in the PDP.
Political analysts suggest this move effectively gives Wike a “dual-party” foothold in Rivers State. By controlling the APC tickets, his faction ensures that even if the PDP (under Fubara) wins, the opposition remains firmly under his influence.
Sources within the Government House in Port Harcourt describe a sense of “heightened concern.” There are fears that a Wike-controlled APC, combined with his existing influence in the PDP, could create an “impeachment-proof” majority against Governor Fubara in the future.
This development places Governor Fubara in a challenging position as he navigates the second year of his administration:
If these candidates win the general bye-elections, the Governor may face an even more hostile House of Assembly, potentially stalling his budget and key appointments.
The sweep highlights the ongoing struggle for the “soul of the PDP” in Rivers. Fubara’s inability to influence the APC primaries (via cross-party alliances) suggests his local political machinery is still being tested.
Thus, expected is a fresh wave of litigations as the Fubara-aligned factions of both the PDP and APC may challenge the validity of these primaries in court.
