Tonye Cole, a former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers, says Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state, joined the “illegal” faction of the APC in Rivers.
Speaking in a Channels Television interview, Cole said the Emeka Beke-led Rivers APC is the authentic faction of Rivers APC.
In December 2025, Fubara ditched the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the ruling APC.
The national leadership of the APC had also welcomed the Rivers governor to the party.
Fubara was presented with his APC membership card by Tony Okocha, a factional chairman of Rivers APC.
Addressing issues pertaining to the defection, Cole said Fubara moved in the “wrong direction” by joining the Okocha faction.
The former governorship candidate said Fubara cannot be legally recognised as an APC member until he joins the Beke-led faction.
He added that Fubara’s defection is an “astute political move” that is welcomed by everyone in the ruling party, including himself.
“I remain the leader of the APC in Rivers state. The reason is very simple. There is a legal case, which was instituted by the APC (faction) that elected me as a candidate of the party,” he said.
“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. I stand on that.
“Every other person who claims to be chairman or leader of APC, unless they come under that faction, doesn’t exist as far as the law is concerned.
“Who is welcoming him (Fubara) 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, and that is where the problem is.
“Even though he (Fubara) is recognised nationally as a member of the APC, the group that has welcomed him is not legally recognised.
“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.”
Cole warned that the APC must avoid a repeat of the 2019 election crisis, when the court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise the party’s candidates in Rivers state.