Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti State, has challenged Governor Siminalayi Fubara over his claims of political dominance in Rivers State.
Fayose made the remarks during an interview on Arise TV on Tuesday while drawing comparisons with the political structure in Lagos State.
Recall that the Rivers State governor had described himself as “001” of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Fayose said that Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos State, does not control Lagos politics, insisting that President Bola Tinubu remains the state’s ultimate political authority.
He cited the impeachment and subsequent reinstatement of Modashiru Obasa, Lagos State House of Assembly speaker, as proof of Tinubu’s influence.
“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,” he said.
“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 for aesthetics. Don’t let it get to your head.”
Fayose also said the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State politically benefited Fubara.
“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,” Fayose said.
“If you read the context 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 added.
The remarks come amid a prolonged power struggle between Fubara and Nyesom Wike, former Rivers governor, over political control of the state.
In December 2025, Fubara defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.