The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Naijaonpoint reports that Fubara announced this at a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
Fubara’s defection comes hours after he held a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.
He was dressed in a deep-blue long-sleeve shirt, black trousers, and a black flat cap, and was seen walking the corridors toward the President’s office at 5:01 p.m. after Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, had also been ushered in for a separate engagement.
Fubara, while speaking at the stakeholders’ meeting, said, “We are in isolation, and we can’t support Mr President if we don’t fully identify with him, not back him and support him.
“So we have taken that decision today. Everyone here who has followed me, who has suffered with me, our decision today, this evening, is that we are moving to APC.”
Addressing the gathering of PDP and APC loyalists, Fubara explained that his decision was prompted by the PDP’s failure to protect him during the recent political crisis in the state, while the APC offered the support and protection he needed.
Fubara said, “I went to see Mr. President not just for a personal visit, but for a consultation on state matters,” Fubara said.
“The most important outcome of that meeting is that we now have full support to leave where we were because we didn’t get the protection we needed. The struggles we faced were due to the crisis in the state.
“If President Tinubu had not intervened, there wouldn’t be a Siminalayi Fubara today. We have the people and supporters with us. Our decision is to move to the APC and fully support the President’s second-term bid.”
Naijaonpoint reports that Fubara’s defection comes days after sixteen members of the Rivers State House of Assembly officially defected from the PDP to the APC.
The lawmakers who defected on Friday included the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule.
Rivers House of Assembly members who defected include the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol (Gokana), Major Jack (Akuku-Toru), Linda Stewart (Okrika), Franklin Nwabochi (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni), Azeru Opara (Port Harcourt 3), Smart Adoki (Port Harcourt 2), Enemi George (Asari-Toru 2), and Solomon Wami (Port Harcourt 1).
Others are Igwe Aforji (Eleme), Tekena Wellington (Asari-Toru 1), Looloo Opuende (Akuku-Toru 2), Peter Abbey (Degema), Arnold Dennis (Ogu/Bolo), Chimezie Nwankwo (Etche), and Ofiks Kabang (Andoni).
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