Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has disputed Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s claim of being the “001” of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.
Fayose argued that holding the governorship does not automatically make someone the top political leader in their state.
Naija News reports that Fayose compared Fubara’s assertion to the political structure in Lagos, noting that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu cannot claim ultimate political authority in Lagos State. According to him, the state’s political leadership is firmly under the control of President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking on Tuesday during an interview with Arise News, Fayose cited the recent impeachment and reinstatement of the Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker as proof of Tinubu’s influence. He explained that the president’s intervention reversed the impeachment without a public statement, highlighting his political dominance.
“The president I know dislikes ingratitude; he controls Lagos from the palm of his hand. For example, the speaker was impeached and replaced, but the president, without saying a word, restored the original speaker because it was an affront to him as leader. Will you tell me Sanwo-Olu is the leader in Lagos? Let him come out and say it. Some statements are just for appearances—don’t let it get to your head,” Fayose said.
Fubara Needs to Learn
Fayose further noted that the state of emergency imposed by President Tinubu in Rivers State effectively gave Governor Fubara a political lifeline, preventing his possible impeachment. He advised Fubara to understand the realities of politics if he intends to maintain power.
“The emergency rule was a lifesaver for Governor Fubara because otherwise, he would have been out of office and unable to contest elections. President Tinubu outmaneuvered him politically, and now it’s time for Fubara to learn, just as I had to after my first tenure as governor,” he added.
Fayose’s remarks come amid a long-standing political feud between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, over control of Rivers State politics.
In December 2025, Fubara defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. During the flag-off of the Rivers Airport Bypass Project on December 12, he publicly pledged his loyalty to the ruling party and President Tinubu, declaring, “Today, I am very happy. I am not just a member of the APC; I am the number one. I have collected my membership card, and the form is 001.”