• Atiku and Obi

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has welcomed the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), following Obi’s official defection to the party.

Atiku, in a post on X on Tuesday, described Obi’s entry into the ADC as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s opposition politics and expressed optimism about working together to build a formidable alternative to the ruling party.

“Today marks a significant moment in the history of political coalitions in our country, with the official declaration of my brother and associate, @PeterObi, into the African Democratic Congress (ADC),” Atiku wrote.

“It is my pleasure to welcome him officially, as we look forward to a robust working relationship that will foster a virile opposition, one that will ultimately form a government capable of bringing prosperity and peace to our people,” he added.

Kinsmen of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike, have passed a vote of confidence in the administration of the governor of the state, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and endorsed him for a second term.

The Eneka people in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, the LGA of Wike, also said the FCT minister is no longer governor of the state, noting that the hollowed office of the state is solely occupied by Fubara.

The endorsement was announced on Tuesday at the 2025 Eneka Day Celebration, held at State Primary School One, Eneka, with the theme “Unity: Our Strength for Progress.”

The event attracted community leaders, traditional rulers and residents from the eleven communities that make up the clan.

The spokesperson for the clan, the Chairman of the Community Development Committee, CDC of Eneka, Mr. Lawson Chukwu, reaffirmed the unwavering loyalty and support of the people for the Governor.

Chukwu commended the administration for its development efforts in the area and appealed to the governor to give attention to the construction of the community’s internal roads.

Chukwu further requested the upgrade of the Eneka traditional stool from second-class to first-class status, noting that such recognition would further strengthen the cultural heritage and unity of the people.

Also, the political leader of Eneka Clan and President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Sen. John Azuta-Mbata, declared that the people of Eneka recognise Siminalayi Fubara as the only Governor of Rivers State.

Mbata promised the Governor of the clan’s continued friendship and support, describing the relationship as firm and unbroken.

Governor Fubara in his response, expressed appreciation for the endorsement and the show of unity by the Eneka people.

He assured the community that his administration would prioritise the restoration of a considerable number of their deteriorated internal roads, many of which, he noted, were damaged by heavy-duty during the construction of flyovers.

The Governor promised a significant and reasonable intervention to improve road access within the clan and enhance the quality of life of residents.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Monday dismissed claims that Governor Siminalayi Fubara has become the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, following the governor’s recent defection to the ruling party.

Wike also said that the recent defection of Fubara from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) came too late and without any political structure to strengthen his new party ahead of the 2027 elections.

Wike, who spoke at a media parley with journalists in Port Harcourt, explained that party leadership is determined by operational structure at the ward level and not by political office.

“Every member registers only in his ward, and that party authority flows from that structure.

“There is nothing like 001 in the state. You register in your ward, and your local government is in your ward. Everybody registers in his own ward. You could be the first person to register, but not in the sense that by becoming governor you automatically become leader of the party,” Wike stated.

He acknowledged that, in principle, governors often lead their parties in their states but insisted that leadership is not conferred by office alone. “Leadership is not because I am a governor. You must have something that makes you a leader,” he added.