Former Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose has challenged the assertion made by Rivers State governor Sim Fubara, claiming he is the leader and principal figure (001) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.

Fayose made this comment during an exclusive interview on Arise TV on Tuesday, January 13. He compared the situation to Lagos State’s leadership landscape, asserting that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu cannot truly be considered the political leader of the state, as that role actually belongs to President Bola Tinubu, a former Lagos governor.

To support his argument, Fayose pointed to the recent impeachment and subsequent reinstatement of the Lagos State House of Assembly speaker, viewing this as evidence of Tinubu’s dominant influence over state politics.

“The president that I know hates ingratitude. He controls Lagos from the palms of his hands. For instance, the speaker was impeached, and another person took over in Lagos State. The president, without saying a word, caused the system to restore that Speaker because it’s an affront to the President, who is the leader.

"Will you tell me Sanwo-Olu is the leader in Lagos? Let him come out and say he’s the leader in the state. There are certain things that are said to cause aesthetics. Don’t let it get to your head,” he said

Fayose also described the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State as a political lifeline for the governor.

“The emergency rule was all-winning for Governor Fubara because by now he would have been history because the moment you’re impeached, you are out of the way and can’t contest.

"If you read the contest of President Tinubu, he took Governor Fubara to the cleaners, and it’s time for Governor Fubara to learn, the way I learnt after my first tenure as governor,” he said

The comments come amid a protracted political feud between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, over control of Rivers State’s political structure.

ASA