PDP dismisses Fubara’s abandonment allegations, insisting he was fully supported before defecting in a political crisis that exposes weaknesses in Nigeria’s democracy.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has issued a lengthy rebuttal to the allegation made by Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, that the party abandoned him at a time when he was locked in a political confrontation within the state.
According to the PDP, the governor’s assertion is not only incorrect but also unjust to the many individuals and institutions that stood by him from the beginning of the political crisis until he chose a different path.
In a detailed statement released by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the party argued that Governor Fubara had enjoyed consistent political and moral support throughout the period of turbulence in Rivers State.
Ememobong stated that the truth of the matter was that Fubara “voluntarily embraced the journey that eventually led to his defection,” and therefore must take responsibility for his decisions rather than shifting blame to the party or the public.
According to the PDP, the governor’s narrative of isolation is misleading and fails to account for the broad coalition of voices that stood behind him when the workings of the state government came under strain.
Civil society organisations, community leaders, and ordinary Nigerians were among those who publicly defended the legitimacy of his office as the political crisis intensified.
Ememobong noted that these groups rallied behind the governor with the belief that they were supporting a man genuinely under political siege, which is why the allegation of abandonment has been received with disappointment.
The PDP maintained that Governor Fubara’s recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was a purely personal and strategic choice, taken long before he went public.
The party asserted that it had never hindered him from exercising his free will, but it also could not allow history to be “rewritten with falsehoods targeted at a party that stood by him.”
Ememobong added that the claim of abandonment appears to be a convenient justification for a political realignment already set in motion.
Speaking further, the PDP spokesman emphasised that if any emotion should be expressed by the governor, it should be gratitude.
He argued that the party, civil society, and Nigerians defended Governor Fubara at various points during the height of the political crisis, even when it appeared that the governor had surrendered to pressures from different power blocs.
“Many supporters stood up boldly for him,” he said, “only for him to capitulate when the stakes became intense.”
Ememobong also raised psychological concerns, warning that the governor might be exhibiting what he described as “Stockholm Syndrome”—a psychological condition where a victim forms emotional ties or sympathy with those who have exerted control or inflicted pressure.
While stressing that this may or may not be the case, Ememobong said the governor’s recent posture, especially after aligning with those he previously portrayed as political aggressors, raises important questions.
Beyond the immediate dispute, the PDP used the moment to address broader issues in Nigeria’s democratic landscape.
The party insisted that the unfolding situation in Rivers State reflects the fragility of democratic institutions in the country.
In the words of the spokesperson, Nigeria is witnessing a disturbing pattern where individuals wield powers that overshadow institutions, enabling them to manipulate state machinery to suffocate opponents during a political crisis.
He warned that when individuals overshadow institutions, democracy becomes vulnerable to exploitation, coercion, and manipulation.
According to the PDP, the conduct of certain actors in the ruling party reveals a deeper ambition to steer Nigeria toward a one-party system.
Ememobong argued that the shrinking political space, the aggressive pursuit of defections, and the pressure exerted on opposition states and officeholders collectively signal an attempt to weaken multiparty democracy.
He described this tendency as a “creeping form of electoral authoritarianism,” which is incompatible with a genuine democratic culture.
The party urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and to recognise the dangers of allowing political discontent to be misrepresented as abandonment when the real issue is the weakening of institutions.
It called on citizens, democratic organisations, and the international community to see the Rivers episode as an example of a larger national challenge—one in which political crisis is becoming a tool used to destabilise opposition structures and consolidate control.
While expressing sympathy for Governor Fubara, the PDP stressed that his personal choices cannot be used to discredit the collective efforts of those who supported him.
The party recalled that during the most critical phases of the political crisis, several interventions were made to safeguard the governor’s authority and ensure that Rivers State did not slide into governance paralysis.
This level of engagement, Ememobong said, contradicts the suggestion that he was left alone.
The PDP reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy despite what it described as attempts by the ruling class to weaken the system.
It called on Nigerians to resist political intimidation, resist the manipulation of state institutions and stand against the construction of a political environment where dissent is punished and defection is rewarded.
The party stated that democracy thrives only when institutions remain stronger than individuals, when political crisis is resolved through dialogue rather than coercion, and when parties refrain from exploiting state power to suppress opponents.
The PDP reiterated its appeal for Nigerians to safeguard the integrity of the democratic process, insisting that what is at stake is not just a disagreement between a party and a governor but the overall health of the nation’s political future.
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