The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) confirms it is ready to welcome the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara into the fold as the state waits for his return on Thursday, after the end of emergency rule.
In Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, APC in the state spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju, invited Fubara to seize the opportunity of returning to decamp to the ruling party.
“If I am the Rivers State governor, on Thursday on my return, I would announce that I had defected to the All Progressives Congress,” Nwauju said. “I think that the governor ought to join the APC, and we would be more than glad to receive him into our party.”
Asked whether Fubara would automatically assume leadership of the APC in Rivers State if he defected, Nwauju replied in the affirmative. “According to the rule of our party, if he joins the All Progressives Congress, he is the party leader,” he said.
Nwauju further commented on the six-month term of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), who has governed the state under emergency rule. He clarified that although the APC has not issued a formal performance report to Ibas, the National Assembly is still the appropriate house to assess his government.
The budget he was given, however, was endorsed by the National Assembly,” Nwauju clarified. “I do hope the House of Representatives committee responsible during the emergency period will do their job and present a report to Nigerians.”.
Whereas President Bola Tinubu and Governor Fubara were due back in the country on Tuesday ahead of Thursday’s resumption of democratic rule in Rivers State. Tinubu, who left on September 4 for holidays in France and Britain, cut short his 10-day trip. Fubara is also arriving from London.
Preparations for the ceremony of the handover are increasing in Port Harcourt, where the government of the state will formally mark the end of six months of emergency rule.
