Former presidential aide on prosecution, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, has said it was unnecessary for Vice President Kashim Shettima to warn FCT Minister Nyesom Wike regarding the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, noting that Wike is not a member of the ruling party.

Speaking to the media in his community, Obono-Obla referenced recent comments by Wike, who claimed to be the leader of both the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, asserting that he would determine who emerges governor in the next general elections.

The Vice President, while in Enugu State, had responded firmly, emphasizing that Governor Siminalayi Fubara is the leader of the APC in Rivers State, not Wike. Shettima noted that while he is the Vice President of Nigeria and the second-in-command in both the country and the party, the leadership of the party in a governor’s state conventionally rests with the sitting governor—citing his home state of Borno, where Governor Professor Babagana Zulum serves that role.

Obono-Obla explained in an interview with DAILY POST that, conventionally, governors of APC-ruled states assume party leadership roles, though the party constitution does not explicitly grant them this authority.

“Be that as it may, if governors assume such a toga by convention within the party, then the Vice President is not entirely wrong to make such an assertion. However, directing it to Minister Nyesom Wike may not be appropriate since he is not a member of the APC in Rivers State,” Obono-Obla said.

He further noted that the lack of a clearly defined role has sometimes allowed governors to exploit this convention, fostering cronyism and godfatherism. He called for reforms within the APC Constitution to clarify leadership roles and limit the misuse of implied authority.

“Clarity within the party constitution will curb tendencies toward cronyism and godfatherism, ensuring leadership roles are properly defined,” Obono-Obla added.