…The PDP secretary said, “With the ruling party’s relentless drive toward a one-party state, democracy in Nigeria is under attack.
RIVERS, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | PDP on Tuesday slammed the All Progressives Congress over Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s defection, accusing the ruling party of engineering the political crisis that led to his exit from the opposition party.
Leaders at both the state and national levels insisted that Fubara’s departure neither weakens the PDP nor changes its structure in Rivers State.
Fubara officially announced his defection to the APC on Tuesday, joining other former PDP governors, including Delta State’s Sheriff Oborevwori, Akwa Ibom’s Umo Eno, Enugu’s Peter Mbah, and Bayelsa’s Duoye Siri.
With Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s official defection, all six states in Nigeria’s South-South—Edo, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta, and Cross River, are now governed by the APC.
Speaking at an emergency stakeholders meeting at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Tuesday, Fubara explained that he left the PDP for two main reasons: the opposition party could not provide him protection, and he remains addressed as “His Excellency, the Governor” rather than “former governor” thanks to the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The meeting, held 24 hours after his visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja, focused on the state’s interests. Fubara disclosed that during his Monday meeting with the President, he received assurances of support. He expressed gratitude for the President’s backing and highlighted Rivers State’s population, political influence, and strong support as factors in rallying behind Tinubu.
Fubara emphasized his intention to avoid political pitfalls, saying the visit to the President was a consultation for the state’s benefit. “I went to see Mr President not just for personal reasons but in the interest of our state,” he said. “I wanted to avoid stepping on any landmines laid for us. The President is fully briefed on the state of affairs and is acting swiftly.”
He announced to the gathering, “The signal has finally arrived. We have the full support and the nod to leave where we are because we didn’t get protection. Without Mr President, there wouldn’t be any His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara; I would have been a former governor. Our duty now is to support him fully.”
Fubara then formally declared the move to the APC. The hall responded with a chorus of “On your mandate we shall stand,” as he joined in singing and ordered the removal of the PDP flag from the Government House.
“Please remove this PDP flag. We don’t need it here anymore. Our position is clear, and all formal processes will now commence. I’ve not let you down before, and I won’t let you down now. We will give our support with full commitment because the people of Rivers State are with us,” he said.
Those present at the meeting included Secretary to the State Government Dr. Benibo Anabraba, his predecessor Dr. Tammy Danagogo, former Ambassador to the Netherlands Oji Ngofa, and all former local government chairmen who served under Fubara.
The PDP described the situation in Rivers State as evidence of the dysfunctional nature of Nigeria’s democracy, where individuals wield more power than institutions and use the federal apparatus to suppress political opponents.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, warned that Nigeria’s democracy is under threat, emphasizing that the ruling party’s push toward a one-party system and shrinking of political space is dangerous.
“Democracy is being severely threatened by actions of this kind, and all well-meaning Nigerians must unite in condemning this decline of democratic norms,” he said.
The PDP secretary also said, “With the ruling party’s relentless drive toward a one-party state, democracy in Nigeria is under attack. Everyone must rise to oppose this slide toward electoral authoritarianism.”
While condemning the APC, the PDP expressed pity for Fubara, stating that his political troubles were self-inflicted and a consequence of the path he willingly chose.
