The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that the embattled and suspended governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, will not find sanctuary in the party, even if he chooses to defect.
This was made known by Tony Okocha, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of APC in Rivers State, during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday. He was reacting to speculations following Fubara’s Sallah visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the possible political implications.
Okocha dismissed any notion that Fubara’s potential move to the APC could influence the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. According to him, the issues surrounding Fubara’s administration were tied to misconduct and not politics.
“If Fubara decides to join the APC, it has nothing to do with the state of emergency in Rivers State. His sins cannot be forgiven because he came to our party,” Okocha stated.
He warned that the APC would not serve as a “dumping ground” for individuals with questionable political behavior. He emphasized that defection into the party must follow laid-down procedures, starting from the ward level.
“He will enter the party through the door, not the window,” Okocha asserted. “All politics is local. If he is serious, he would start by defecting in his ward, and we would be informed.”
When questioned about the Governor’s visit to President Tinubu, Okocha downplayed any political undertones. He cited other notable visits to the President during the Sallah period, including those by former Governor Segun Osoba and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
“How can I be worried that somebody visited my President? It was the season of Sallah,” he said.
Furthermore, Okocha dismissed claims that Fubara was making reconciliatory efforts with the party, insisting that no such moves had been initiated or communicated.
This development comes amid heightened political tensions in Rivers State, where Fubara has been at loggerheads with key political stakeholders and institutions.
