Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has announced his immediate defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, bringing along key political stakeholders and loyal supporters.
The announcement was made during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt, following a crucial closed-door consultation the governor held with President Bola Tinubu on Monday.
Fubara stated that the decision was influenced by the need to fully align with the President, whom he credited with sustaining his leadership position amidst recent political instability in the state.
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“Without Mr. President, there wouldn’t be any His Excellency Siminalayi. It would have been a former governor,” he stated.
Fubara explained that his visit to Tinubu was not a personal one, but a “state interest consultation” aimed at ensuring stability and avoiding mistakes.
He disclosed that the meeting resulted in a positive nod for their political realignment.He justified the move by stating that the PDP had failed to offer protection during the state’s political crisis.
“We didn’t get any protection where we were, and the reason we are still standing today is because of that new place,” he said, signaling the APC as the source of his stability.
The governor stressed that to fully support Tinubu, the move was necessary, stating, “We cannot support the President in isolation. We cannot give him backyard support. This evening, we are moving to the APC.”
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Fubara assured his supporters that the formal processes for the defection would begin immediately, pledging, “I have not let you down before, and I will not let you down now.”
