- Warns action may trigger fresh litigation
BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – The crisis rocking the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has deepened with the party’s spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju insisting it is an “illegal working committee” that registered Governor Siminalayi Fubara as a Party member
Nwauju said in a statement issued on December 12, 2025 that registering the governor under the disputed faction of the APC amounted to a direct assault on the rule of law and a brazen ridicule of the judiciary.
He maintained that every attempt to revive the faction, whose congresses were “rightfully castrated” by two separate court judgments, only reinforces APC’s internal crisis and exposes a dangerous disregard for legal order by the factional leadership.
While pointing to the August 12, 2024, ruling by Justice Sika Aprioku and the December 20, 2024, judgment delivered by Justice Godswill Obomanu, Nwauju said it is on record that both judges nullified the congress that purportedly produced the group that handled the so-called registration of Governor Fubara.
Questioning the legitimacy of the entire exercise, Nwauju said: “Does running to Government House to register Governor Sim Fubara in order to validate his group set aside the judgments that nullified the Congress that produced them? The answer is a resounding NO.”
He described the move illegal and provocative, warning that the so-called registration could trigger fresh litigation within the ruling party.
According to the Party spokesperson, the APC in Rivers State could not afford another round of court battles caused by actions deemed as both illegitimate and reckless.
For Nwauju, “They must stop creating room for further litigation within the APC in Rivers State because the so-called registration done by an illegal entity can be challenged in court.”
Political commentators argued that with the rising tensions across political blocs in the state, this latest outburst signals that the Rivers APC may once again be heading toward turbulent waters.
APC’s insiders believe that the development has further raised questions about unity, legality, and the uncertain future of the party in the state.
Recalled that Governor Fubara officially registered as an APC member on Friday, December 11, 2024, after receiving his membership card at presented to him by the Rivers State APC Chairman, Tony Okocha, who represented the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, at the event.
During the ceremony that took place at at Government House, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, Governor Fubara said his decision to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (APC) is meant to promote unity and development in the oil-rich State.
