The Rivers State branch of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is actively courting suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara to join its fold as the state approaches a pivotal transition from emergency rule.
During this Tuesday’s media broadcast, APC spokesperson Darlington Nwauju publicly urged Fubara to align with the party. “If I were in the governor’s position, I’d declare my switch to the APC upon my return on Thursday,” Nwauju stated, emphasizing the warm reception awaiting Fubara.
He further clarified that Fubara’s entry would automatically position him as the party’s leader in Rivers, citing APC’s internal conventions. “It’s a given that if he joins us, he takes the helm of the party here,” Nwauju affirmed.
Commenting on the past six months under Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), who has served as state administrator, Nwauju noted that the APC has not yet demanded a formal account of Ibas’s governance.
He pointed out that Ibas’s budget received approval from the National Assembly, and a House of Representatives committee is responsible for reviewing this period. “I trust the committee will conduct a thorough assessment and share their findings with the public, as that’s part of their legislative duty,” Nwauju said, expressing confidence in the oversight process.
Also see: Rivers State to Become Model of Good Governance in Nigeria – Ibas
With democratic rule set to resume on Thursday, preparations for the handover are intensifying. President Bola Tinubu, returning from France, and Fubara, arriving from London, are both expected back in Nigeria on Tuesday. Their return aligns with the state administrator’s efforts to ensure a smooth transition, marking the end of emergency governance in Rivers.
It bears mentioning that this strategic outreach by the APC underscores its ambition to strengthen its influence in the state ahead of the supposed democratic restoration.
