Former All Progressives Congress (APC) Rivers State governorship candidate Tonye Cole has criticised Governor Siminalayi Fubara over his recent defection to the ruling party, saying the governor is politically vulnerable due to the faction he joined.
Speaking in an interview, Cole argued that Fubara aligned himself with an unrecognised faction of the APC in Rivers State led by Tony Okocha, rather than the legally recognised group headed by Emeka Beke. He said only the Beke faction has a valid claim to lead the party in the state.
Fubara’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in December 2025 was welcomed by the national leadership of the APC. However, Cole insisted that because the governor joined through the Okocha faction, his membership in the party at the state level is not legally valid.
“You see, Fubara was given his APC membership card by Tony Okocha, but Okocha’s faction isn’t legally recognised,” Cole said. “Until he aligns with the legitimately recognised faction under Emeka Beke, he is not safe politically where he is.” While Cole acknowledged that the defection itself was a smart political move, he warned that this internal dispute could lead to legal challenges similar to past court rulings that once prevented the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising APC candidates in Rivers State.
