...Fubara described his announcement as “good news” for the people of the state,
RIVERS, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | Fubara, the Rivers State Governor, has finally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after months of speculation.
The governor made the announcement of his defection while speaking to stakeholders at a meeting held at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday evening.
Fubara’s defection came just 72 hours after 17 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule and all elected on the PDP platform, resigned and joined the ruling party.
Speaking to the gathering, Fubara described his announcement as “good news” for the people of the state, noting that he had met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday to brief him on developments in Rivers.
He commended President Tinubu for his support to the state, particularly in helping resolve the recent political crisis, and told supporters that “it is better for us to move from where we are to where it is better for Rivers State.”
With his characteristic smile, the governor expressed confidence in Rivers State’s population and political clout to make a decisive shift into the APC.
It is recalled that one of the issues reportedly discussed during the peace process brokered by President Tinubu between Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike, was a possible defection to the APC.
The move did not surprise many political observers, particularly as Fubara had not publicly acknowledged the efforts of PDP governors who challenged in court the federal government’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State between March 18 and September 18, which led to the suspension of the governor, his deputy, and the 32-member House of Assembly.
Fubara’s defection now means that all six states in the South-South geopolitical zone are under APC control, raising concerns among some observers that Nigeria may be moving toward a one-party dominance.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State PDP Chairman, Hon. Robinson Ewor, had earlier informed iNews Times that he would not be joining the governor in the defection.
“He is free to choose where he wants to be, but if he leaves the PDP today, I will not be following him,” Ewor said.
