The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has declared its willingness to accept Governor Siminalayi Fubara into the party if he defects from the Peoples Democratic Party.
According to The PUNCH, the reinstated Rivers APC Chairman, Chief Emeka Beke, on Tuesday, said that such a move would benefit both Fubara and the APC. His comments follow speculation that Fubara may switch parties as part of negotiations to resolve the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, which led to his suspension by President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking through his Chief of Staff, Chizi Enyi, Beke affirmed the party’s readiness to admit the governor.
“Sure, we will welcome the governor. Do we have an option? Welcoming the governor into the party will mean the APC gains a strategic advantage in Rivers State,” he said.
Beke noted that states where the governor belongs to an opposition party often struggle with funding and participation in state activities. Fubara’s defection, he argued, would strengthen the APC’s influence in governance.
“As the governor of Rivers State, he automatically becomes the leader of the party at the state level. This would also allow the APC to play a key role in state programmes and functions,” he added.
Beke further stated that he would be willing to advise Fubara on improving governance, something the APC had withheld while in opposition.
“As an opposition party, we have what it takes to help the governor do better than what he is currently doing. But we have kept our suggestions as part of our ideology. If the governor joins us, we’ll open our hearts to him and offer input on how to improve the lives of Rivers people and others residing in the state,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Elders and Leaders Council has distanced itself from partisan politics, insisting its primary concern is Fubara’s reinstatement.
Anabs Sara-Igbe, a council member and pioneer spokesman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, criticized the continued tenure of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) as Sole Administrator, calling it unconstitutional.
Asked whether Fubara should join the APC to reconcile with former political mentor and current FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Sara-Igbe dismissed the speculation.
“Rivers people are not interested in that now. We are not interested in any party. What we want is Sim’s return. That is our interest,” he said.
He added, “We elected him as our governor. We don’t want anyone else coming to take our resources.”
Fubara’s media aide on electronic media, Jerry Omatsogunwa, confirmed ongoing reconciliation talks between the governor and Wike but declined to provide specifics.
“They are talking, but the details are not clear. Everything you are hearing is still speculation. In time, we will know the full outcome,” he said.
Regarding reports of a possible defection to the APC, Omatsogunwa stated, “We have not heard anything about that for now.”