The Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday blasted the All Progressives Congress over the defection of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, accusing the ruling party of orchestrating the political crisis that pushed Fubara out of the PDP. Reactions emerged from both the state and national levels of the opposition party, with leaders insisting that Fubara’s exit neither weakened the PDP nor altered its structure in Rivers State.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has officially dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

The governor made the announcement during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

Addressing political leaders, senior officials, and invited groups, Fubara openly declared that “Siminalayi Fubara has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC)”, bringing an end to his long affiliation with the PDP.

His statement drew mixed reactions across the state, especially as the political crisis in Rivers has remained unresolved for months.

During the meeting, Fubara noted that his move was driven by the need for a more stable environment to run the affairs of the state.

He hinted that constant internal battles had slowed progress and that it was time to “focus on the real work” his administration was elected to deliver.

Leaders of the APC in the state are expected to stage a formal reception for the governor in the coming days.

Early reactions from party members show excitement as they describe his entry as a significant boost to the APC’s influence in the South-South region.

The PDP in Rivers is yet to release an official statement, but internal consultations are reportedly ongoing as the party evaluates the impact of losing its sitting governor.

Recall that Governor Fubara recently met with President Bola Tinubu on Monday, a meeting that sparked widespread speculation about possible political shifts.

With today’s declaration, many now believe that discussion may have played a key role in the direction the governor has taken.

In a related development, POLITICS NIGERIA earlier reported the protracted clash between Governor Fubara and members of the State House of Assembly, a crisis that deepened the cracks within the PDP in the state. His defection appears to be the latest chapter in that long-running conflict.

More updates shortly…

The National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr. Ajuji Ahmed, has dismissed widespread rumours claiming the party is plotting to form an alliance with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

Speaking on the matter, Ahmed stressed that the NNPP is charting its own political path and is not in any form of conversation with President Bola Tinubu or the Presidency.

He described the speculation as baseless and completely out of tune with the party’s internal agenda.

According to him, “I can tell you for free that the national leader of the NNPP is not romancing or making any conversation with either the President or with the Presidency and that is a genuine statement, not a political one.”

Ahmed made it clear that the party is focused on strengthening its structures ahead of the next general elections and is not exploring any backstage political arrangements. He said the NNPP is confident that the battle for Kano State in 2027 will be decided by the voters and not by any political merger or coalition.

The Party Chairman emphasised that the NNPP has no intention of relying on the APC to win, insisting that doing so would be counterproductive to the party’s growth in the state. He said the party’s strategy remains to build its base, expand its reach, and work with Nigerians who believe in the NNPP brand.

In his words, “I don’t believe that because we want to be successful, we have to join the APC. We believe that joining the APC will guarantee our failure in Kano.”

Ahmed also spoke on the party’s broader ambitions, noting that the NNPP is gradually building its presence across the country. He added that apart from the APC, the NNPP remains the only party with a solid structure cutting across all states and local governments.

Addressing concerns about the party’s presidential ticket, he explained that the NNPP is open to every aspirant who meets the requirements and that the final decision will come from the National Working Committee (NWC).

He acknowledged the political influence of Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso but maintained that the former Kano governor does not single-handedly determine the fate of the party.

He said Kwankwaso understands the system and respects the internal processes guiding the NNPP, adding that no single individual can override the party’s organs.

On the state of opposition politics in Nigeria, Ahmed rejected claims that the APC is responsible for the crisis rocking other parties. He argued that political instability usually comes from within and that no external force can tear apart a party that is united and organised.

According to him, “whatever party is in crisis, it is in crisis due to its own internal contradictions.”

He noted that if major parties like the PDP and the Labour Party had worked as a cohesive unit, they wouldn’t be facing the level of fragmentation they currently suffer. He said the NNPP prefers to stay calm and focused, rather than being loud without direction.

He added, “We prefer to be silent than to be noisy like PDP because they are noisy for all the wrong reasons. And we are silent for all the right reasons.”

Ahmed hinted that the NNPP has ongoing internal plans that will be revealed at the appropriate time. He suggested that critics doubting the party’s strength will eventually realise that his warnings were not empty.

“You will come here again and say to me, you told me so,” he said with confidence.