2027: Fubara has no political structure going to APC, defection came too late — Wike
“As a governor, he has the State Assembly to move with, he has the council chairmen, the party chairmen and members of the National Assembly to move with. But in this case, who did he move with? These people decided to move on their own,” he said.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said that the defection of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) came too late and without any political structure to strengthen his new party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Wike stated that before Governor Fubara’s decision to leave the PDP, about 22 local government chairmen in the state and nearly half of the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly had already defected to the APC.
Mocking the governor’s move, Wike said Fubara failed to carry along key political stakeholders.
“As a governor, he has the State Assembly to move with, he has the council chairmen, the party chairmen and members of the National Assembly to move with. But in this case, who did he move with? These people decided to move on their own,” he said.
The former Rivers State governor made the remarks during an end-of-year media chat in Port Harcourt on Monday, where he stressed that merely chanting support slogans for President Bola Tinubu does not guarantee re-election.
“Shouting ‘on your mandate we shall stand’ does not imply automatic ticket. It doesn’t mean that,” Wike said.
He also dismissed claims that there was any fanfare at Government House on the day Governor Fubara defected to the APC, insisting that proper procedure must be followed when joining a new party.
“There is nothing like 001 in Rivers State. When you defect, you go to your ward and register for a new party,” he said, disputing claims that Fubara was issued APC membership number 0001 as the political leader of the state.
Wike further revealed that whenever he decides to leave the PDP, his loyalists across several states would follow him, insisting that leadership is demonstrated by the ability to mobilise followers.
Reacting to Fubara’s earlier remark that those supporting President Tinubu should not do so “corner corner,” Wike said he has been one of the most criticised ministers in the current administration because of his open support for the President.
“Nigerians know that in 2023, I supported the President. I didn’t hide it. If I were doing ‘corner corner,’ Assembly members and National Assembly members would not have gone with me. That is leadership,” he said.
Wike expressed confidence that the PDP would not win the FCT in the next election, citing the policies and performance of President Tinubu.
On the alleged breakdown of the peace agreement brokered by President Tinubu in Rivers State, Wike blamed Governor Fubara, accusing him of failing to keep to his part of the truce and being economical with the truth regarding his relationship with the leadership of the State Assembly.
“What stops you from calling the Speaker to ask how he is, or calling members of the Assembly to wish them a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year? You don’t have to wait for me to tell you to do that,” Wike said.
