Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has dismissed Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s claim of being the “001” of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Mr Wike, who spoke on Sunday in Rivers State, explained that the “001” concept doesn’t exist at the state level, stressing that Mr Fubura only registered at his ward after joining the APC.

“He decamped to the APC with whom? What is 001? Let me tell you, there’s nothing like 001 in the state. You register in your ward and local government, so if you are 001, it’s in your ward.

“There’s nothing like 001. There’s nothing like ‘I have registered in the state as 001.’ Everybody registered in their own ward. You could be the first person to register, but that’s not your position,” he said.

Mr Fubara had claimed the top spot during his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, asserting that he obtained membership form 001 as part of efforts to support President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

However, Mr Wike questioned Mr Fubara’s ability to lead the party, saying his defection lacked a political structure and mass support.

Highlighting the difference between position and leadership, Mr Wike said before Mr Fubara’s decision to leave the PDP, about 22 local government chairmen in the state and nearly half of the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly had already defected to the APC.

“As a governor, he has the state assembly to move with; he has the council chairmen, the party chairmen, and members of the National Assembly to move with.

“But in this case, with whom did he move? These people decided to move on their own. Shouting ‘on your mandate we shall stand’ does not imply an automatic ticket. It doesn’t mean that,” Mr Wike said.

He further dismissed claims of fanfare at the government house during Mr Fubara’s defection, citing his own experience supporting Mr Tinubu openly in 2023 as an example of true leadership.

Mr Wike further revealed that whenever he decides to leave the PDP, his loyalists across several states will follow him, insisting that leadership is demonstrated by the ability to mobilise followers.