Fubara joined illegal Rivers APC faction and isn’t safe - Former Rivers APC governorship candidate Tonye Cole

Former Rivers governorship candidate Tonye Cole says Governor Siminalayi Fubara defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) through what he described as an illegal faction of the party in the state. Speaking on Channels Television, Cole claimed the Emeka Beke-led structure of the Rivers APC remains the only authentic and legally recognised faction. Fubara, who left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in December 2025, was welcomed into the APC by a rival faction led by Tony Okocha and presented with a membership card. Cole said the governor moved in the wrong direction by joining the Okocha faction, arguing that Fubara cannot be considered a legally recognised APC member until he aligns with the Beke camp. Despite the disagreement, Cole described the governors defection as an astute political move welcomed within the party. I remain the leader of the APC in Rivers state. The reason is very simple, he said. There is a legal case, which was instituted by the APC (faction) that elected me as a candidate of the party. That is the Emeka Beke-led faction case. That case was won in court, and the faction was recognised as the APC leadership. That is legal. Cole dismissed any rival claims to the party leadership. Every other person who claims to be chairman or leader of APC, unless they come under that faction, doesnt exist as far as the law is concerned, he said. Questioning the basis on which Fubara was admitted, he added: Who is welcoming him 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. Cole maintained that the governor would be welcomed if he joined the Beke structure. Even though he is recognised nationally as a member of the APC, the group that has welcomed him is not legally recognised, he said. 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. He cautioned that the APC must avoid a recurrence of the partys 2019 crisis in Rivers, when a court barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the partys candidates in the general elections.The post Fubara joined illegal Rivers APC faction and isnt safe - Former Rivers APC governorship candidate Tonye Cole appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.