Jake Epelle, founder of TAF Africa and vocal critic of political maneuvering in Rivers State, has branded the current political crisis as "disgraceful" on December 9, 2025, following the defection of lawmakers loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to the APC. He dismissed Wike's influence as emperor-like control, insisting the former governor is no godfather and should focus on his ministerial role rather than gripping Rivers resources "by the jugular." Epelle warned that these moves signal brewing conflict, urging President Tinubu's intervention to protect state interests.
This outburst builds on Epelle's pattern of challenging Rivers power plays, including his August 2025 condemnation of local government polls as a "democratic scam" riddled with illegal primaries and resource siphoning. He expressed distrust in judicial processes and called for divine or legal recourse, emphasizing that Rivers belongs to its people, not scripted dramas rewarding loyalists. The defections have reignited Fubara-Wike tensions, with assembly members endorsing figures amid emergency rule.
Epelle's stance underscores broader calls for accountability in the oil-rich state, where godfatherism has long fueled instability. He advised restraint from unrest while decrying "law destroyers" undermining democracy, positioning his critique as a defense of constituents over elite agendas.