If Governor Fubara ends up in the APC, the blame should rest squarely on the PDP, not on him. It is the PDP that effectively handed over its structure in Rivers State to Nyesom Wike, a serving minister in an APC-led government and Fubara’s known political rival
Opposition lawmakers have voiced strong criticism against the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), accusing it of abandoning Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and effectively pushing him towards defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmakers made their position known on Tuesday through a statement issued by their spokesperson, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, in response to growing rumours that Governor Fubara may soon switch allegiance to the APC. These speculations were further fueled by Fubara’s recent visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at his private residence in Lagos.
According to the lawmakers, the PDP must bear the responsibility if Governor Fubara eventually defects. They argued that the party failed to protect its own when it mattered most, instead choosing to align with forces within the ruling party.
“If Governor Fubara ends up in the APC, the blame should rest squarely on the PDP, not on him,” Ugochinyere stated. “It is the PDP that effectively handed over its structure in Rivers State to Nyesom Wike, a serving minister in an APC-led government and Fubara’s known political rival.”
The lawmakers further alleged that the PDP leadership stood by and watched as lawmakers loyal to Wike decamped from the PDP to the APC and attempted to impeach Fubara, without taking decisive action to defend the governor. They claimed the party made only symbolic gestures while its leadership maintained close ties with Wike.
“The PDP not only allowed but supported the lawmakers who defected to the APC and moved to impeach Governor Fubara,” Ugochinyere continued. “Rather than stand firmly with the governor, the party’s leadership was seen fraternizing with Wike—the very person behind the political onslaught against Fubara.”
Highlighting their concerns, the lawmakers criticized the PDP for its apparent inaction following what they described as a “state of emergency” in Rivers State and Fubara’s subsequent suspension from office. They argued that beyond releasing lukewarm press statements, the party failed to take meaningful action in defence of its embattled governor.
“Since the onset of the crisis in Rivers and the suspension of Governor Fubara, the PDP has done nothing concrete to support him,” the statement added. “Apart from issuing contradictory press releases—condemning the President’s actions in the afternoon and praising them at night—the party has left its own governor to fend for himself.”
The lawmakers concluded by reaffirming their stance that the PDP’s internal contradictions and misplaced loyalties are to blame for the deteriorating political situation in Rivers State and the potential loss of one of its sitting governors to the opposition.