The President of the Ijaw National Congress, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, has said there is nothing wrong if Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State decides to join the All Progressives Congress (APC). His remarks come amid rising speculation that Fubara may leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling party.
Fubara, who is currently under a six-month suspension following the political crisis in Rivers State, recently met with President Bola Tinubu in Lagos—a development that has intensified talks of a possible defection to the APC.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Thursday, Prof. Okaba said: “If a former Vice Presidential candidate defects, what’s wrong about Fubara defecting to APC? There is nothing wrong about that.”
He dismissed the idea that political parties in Nigeria are driven by ideology, describing them instead as vehicles for political advancement. “What we have are just platforms put together from people to transmit or oscillate from one place to another. If we have state governors and former vice presidential candidates of parties just moving on, to the extent that one of the governors said, ‘If you don’t move with me, I will sack you.’”
Prof. Okaba also referred to Fubara’s public statements about restoring peace in Rivers State. He cautioned against reading too much into the governor’s recent meetings and efforts. “Fubara said he will do anything for peace in Rivers State; however, Nigerians should not interpret this as him planning to defect. Even tomorrow, Tinubu may decide to defect to PDP if he finds the party as a veritable platform.”
On March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and placed Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state House of Assembly on a six-month suspension.
He also appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas as the administrator to take charge of the state’s governance during this period.
