“What I Would Do With Wike If I Were Fubara”: Ex-APC Governorship Candidate Reacts to Rivers Crisis

• A former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, has reacted to the political crisis rocking Rivers state
• Cole explained what will happen to suspended governor Sim Fubara when he eventually returns to office
• The APC chieftain also disclosed what he would do with the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, if he were in Fubara’s shoe

Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 8 years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international issues

Port Harcourt, Rivers state – A former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, said suspended Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, will have ‘zero’ powers when him returns to office.

Legit.ng reports that Fubara, who was suspended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for six months is expected to return to office on Thursday, September 18, 2025.

Cole said Fubara would not be able to make any decision when his suspension is eventually lifted without interference.

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APC woos Rivers governor Fubara ahead of reinstatement, “Announce your defection”

The APC chieftain said Fubara would find himself in a difficult situation in running the affairs of the state.

He stated this while speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.

The co-founder cried out, stating that Fubara would not be able to exercise his full authority as the governor of the oil-rich state.

“We cannot be in a situation where we have an elected governor of a state, like Rivers State, which is a very critical state not just for the people of Rivers but Nigeria as a whole, and what you then see is that you have an elected governor that has zero powers.

“I don’t think it portends well at all. It’s extremely difficult, and I think the governor will be finding himself in a very difficult situation”

Cole advised Fubara to reach out to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike, and agree on how he can make certain decisions in the state.

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“What I would do if I were him would be to now sit down with the honourable minister and appeal for some leeway to allow certain decisions to be taken by me as governor, and others to be taken by him, whatever peace agreement they had.”

APC woos Governor Fubara ahead of reinstatement

Recall that the APC in Rivers state assured that suspended Governor Fubara would be given the party’s leadership position in the state if he joins its fold.

The reinstated spokesman of the APC in Rivers state, Darlington Nwauju, said this in a trending interview on Tuesday, urging Fubara to announce his defection during his reinstatement on Thursday, September 18, 2025.

Legit.ng reported that President Bola Tinubu and Governor Fubara were expected to be back in Nigeria ahead of Rivers’ return to democratic rule.

Tonye Cole urges Wike to join APC

In a previous story, Legit.ng reported that Cole pressured FCT minister Nyesom Wike to move to the ruling party and allow other opposition parties to breathe.

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In a trending interview, Cole challenged Wike, alleging that the minister cannot be in the APC and be controlling the PDP.

The Sahara Group co-founder advised the minster to defect to the APC honourably and stop deceiving Nigerians.

Source: Legit.ng