By Abiola Olawale
In a surprising turn amid ongoing political reconciliation efforts in Rivers State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has signaled its willingness to welcome the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara into the party
This development comes as the oil-rich Niger Delta state prepares to end six months of emergency rule.
APC spokesman in Rivers, Darlington Nwauju, made the call on Tuesday while speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
Nwauju said: “If I were the governor of Rivers State, on my return on Thursday, I would announce my defection to the All Progressives Congress.
“I think the governor should join the APC, and we would gladly receive the governor into our party.”
When asked if Fubara would lead the APC in Rivers if he defected, Nwauju responded that it was automatic.
“By the convention of our party, if he joins the All Progressives Congress, he becomes the leader of the party,” he added.
Nwauju also spoke about the administration of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), who has overseen the state for the past six months.
“APC has not officially demanded that Ibas give an account of his stewardship for the past six months.
“The budget approval he got was from the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. There is a committee from the House of Representatives overseeing the period of emergency.
“I do expect that the committee should be able to do due diligence, come up with that report, and tell Nigerians what they found out. It is one of their core mandates in the business of legislations and lawmaking,” he stated.
The New Diplomat reports that Rivers State has been a hotspot of political instability since late 2023, when tensions erupted between Fubara and his predecessor-turned-Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The crisis escalated dramatically in December 2023 after Fubara demolished the state House of Assembly complex.
In a bid to restore order, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency on March 18, 2025, suspending Fubara and appointing Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) as sole administrator.
