Fubara welcome to join Rivers APC, says chairman

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed readiness to welcome suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara into the party if he decides to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Speaking with The PUNCH on Tuesday, the reinstated Rivers APC Chairman, Chief Emeka Beke, said such a move would be mutually beneficial to both Governor Fubara and the APC. His remarks come amid speculation that Fubara may defect to the APC as part of a political negotiation to resolve the lingering crisis in Rivers State, which led to his suspension by President Bola Tinubu. Speaking through his Chief of Staff, Chizi Enyi, Beke said the APC would have no hesitation in admitting 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. He noted that states where the governor is not from the ruling party often face challenges in funding and participation in state activities. According to him, Fubara’s defection would give the APC greater leverage and visibility in the state’s 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 open to offering guidance to Fubara on how to improve governance in the state. He explained that while the APC, as the opposition, had previously withheld such advice, the dynamic would change should the governor join the party. “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 any political party affiliation, insisting that their main concern is the return of Governor Fubara to office. A member of the council and pioneer spokesman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Anabs Sara-Igbe, stated this during a phone interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday. He criticised the continued stay of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) as Sole Administrator of the state, describing his appointment as unconstitutional. Asked whether Fubara should join the APC as part of a peace deal with his former political mentor, now FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Sara-Igbe said such speculation was irrelevant. “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 that reconciliation talks between the governor and Wike are ongoing, though he declined to share details. “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. On reports suggesting the governor might defect to the APC, Omatsogunwa said, “We have not heard anything about that for now.”