The long-running internal turmoil within the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a dramatic turn following the controversial registration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara into the party by a faction whose legitimacy remains hotly contested.
The development has triggered strong reactions from within the party, particularly from the APC’s spokesperson in the state, Darlington Nwauju. In a strongly worded statement released on December 12, 2025, Nwauju condemned the governor’s registration, describing it as a blatant violation of due process and an open insult to the authority of the courts. He argued that the action undermines the rule of law and further destabilizes a party already grappling with deep internal divisions.
According to Nwauju, the core of the controversy lies in the identity of the group that carried out Governor Fubara’s registration. The faction is reportedly led by Rivers State APC Chairman, Tony Okocha, whose emergence, Nwauju said, was based on party congresses that have already been invalidated by the courts. He emphasized that two separate judicial pronouncements had nullified those congresses, rendering any leadership structure arising from them legally nonexistent.
Nwauju cited specific court decisions to support his argument, including a judgment delivered on August 12, 2024, by Justice Sika Aprioku, as well as another ruling issued on December 20, 2024, by Justice Godswill Obomanu. Both rulings, he maintained, effectively stripped the Okocha-led faction of any legal standing within the APC in Rivers State.
Questioning the rationale behind the governor’s registration, Nwauju dismissed claims that the ceremony could somehow override the court decisions. He argued that political symbolism cannot replace legal authority and insisted that no amount of high-profile endorsement can nullify valid judgments.
He warned that repeated attempts to resuscitate the disputed faction only highlight what he described as a troubling disregard for the rule of law. In his view, such actions deepen mistrust within the party and worsen an already fragile internal situation.
Describing the registration as both unlawful and deliberately provocative, Nwauju cautioned that the move could open the floodgates to fresh legal battles. He stressed that the Rivers APC is in no position to endure further litigation, especially when such disputes are avoidable.
He further noted that the registration exercise, having been conducted by what he termed an “illegal structure,” remains vulnerable to legal challenge. According to him, continuing down this path risks plunging the party into another cycle of court cases, internal rancour, and public embarrassment.
Despite the controversy, Governor Fubara was officially presented with his APC membership card on Friday at the Government House in Port Harcourt. The card was handed over by Tony Okocha, who claimed to be acting on behalf of the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda. Speaking at the event, Governor Fubara explained that his decision to align with the APC was driven by a desire to foster unity, stability, and development across Rivers State.
However, the disputed nature of the registration has raised serious questions about its legitimacy and potential consequences, further exposing the deep fractures within the Rivers APC and setting the stage for what could be another prolonged legal and political confrontation.
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