Quest FM TV – September 12, 2025
The political landscape of Rivers State remains engulfed in controversy as the leadership tussle within the All Progressives Congress (APC) deepens, leaving party members and observers grappling with conflicting claims of legitimacy.
At the heart of the crisis is the question of who truly leads the party in the state. One camp insists that a recent court ruling has affirmed its executive as the authentic leadership of the APC in Rivers. This group, buoyed by judicial recognition, recently paid a courtesy visit to the APC National Chairman, who in turn appealed for unity, urging party members to set aside disputes and rally behind President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The chairman emphasized that peace within the APC was essential to building a more stable and prosperous Rivers State.
The leader of the delegation praised Rivers people for their support during the last local government elections, assuring members that “peace has returned” to the party. He commended President Tinubu’s style of governance, describing it as a pathway to progress for the state.
Yet, this narrative has been strongly contested. In an exclusive interview with Quest FM TV, Hon. Darlington, who maintains he is the rightful Publicity Secretary of the APC in Rivers, rejected any suggestion that multiple factions exist. According to him, there is only one legitimate leadership—headed by Chief Beye—as affirmed by a subsisting court judgment that has not been set aside. Darlington dismissed descriptions of his role as “factional,” insisting such portrayals undermine the authority of the judiciary.
He further raised concerns about the last local government elections, alleging that candidates who emerged through recognized APC primaries were sidelined. Instead, he claimed, individuals supported by external forces, including elements within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were wrongly imposed as APC flagbearers. Darlington said he personally submitted official petitions to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but those correspondences were ignored, accusing the electoral body of complicity in “compromising the will of party members.”
The discussion also turned to the alleged influence of former Rivers State governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, within the APC. While critics argue that Wike’s allies are increasingly shaping the party’s structure in Rivers, Darlington dismissed the claims outright. He stressed that Wike remains a PDP politician and has not followed any official process to defect to the APC.
Despite the tension, Darlington insisted that the path to stability lies in recognizing Chief Beye’s leadership as the authentic structure of the APC in the state. Such recognition, he argued, would pave the way for genuine reconciliation and open the door to progress ahead of future elections.
The program ended on a lighter note, with a cordial exchange between Darlington and the host—an indication that while disagreements remain fierce, the spirit of dialogue within Rivers APC politics endures.
Report by: Kalu Divine | Edited by: Chris Odjomah