The Special Assistant on Electronic Media to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Jerry Omatsogunwa, has dismissed reports of the governor’s alleged planned defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Omatsogunwa reaffirmed that Governor Fubara remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), expressing doubt that the governor was even aware of the rumored defection.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!According to Omatsogunwa, “As it stands now, we are still members of the PDP, and nothing has changed as far as we are concerned right now.” He emphasized that Governor Fubara is still a bona fide member of the PDP and currently serves as the Deputy Chairman of the PDP Governor’s Forum.
The aide’s statement comes after a report by Arise News claimed that Governor Fubara, alongside his Delta State counterpart, Sheriff Oborevwori, and Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, were planning to defect to APC. The report suggested that the move was part of a broader strategic political alignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Omatsogunwa also commented on unconfirmed reports of a meeting between Governor Fubara and President Bola Tinubu over the weekend in London, neither confirming nor denying the meeting. However, he stated that if such a meeting did take place, it would be a positive step towards finding a way forward for the state.
The aide reiterated sentiments shared by others, suggesting that if a state of emergency were necessary, it should be declared in states genuinely experiencing instability, not in Rivers State, which he described as “peaceful.” He accused Ibas of attempting to incite a crisis by allegedly appointing loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as sole administrators across the state’s 23 local government areas.
President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, citing a prolonged political crisis that threatens critical national assets in the oil-rich region. The move has drawn widespread condemnation from political leaders, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), civil society groups, and a majority of Rivers residents, who have described it as unconstitutional.