PDP rebukes Fubara over defection, says governor alone chose his political path
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday criticised Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara for dumping the party, insisting that his move to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was a personal decision for which no one else could be blamed.
Governor Fubara made his announcement during a meeting with political stakeholders at the Government House in Port Harcourt, where he alleged that the PDP had failed to offer him protection during the protracted political crisis in the state.
According to him, the lack of support from his former party motivated his switch to the ruling APC.
But in a swift response, the PDP leadership, through a statement issued by National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, described the governor’s explanation as misguided and unjustified.
The party, led by acting Chairman, Kabiru Turaki, argued that Fubara embarked on the political journey that led to his defection entirely by his own choosing.
The party maintained that the governor’s attempt to portray himself as abandoned by the PDP was a distortion of events, insisting that many individuals and groups had openly defended him since the crisis began.
The statement also suggested that Fubara’s recollection of events may have been shaped by the pressures surrounding him, adding pointedly that he ought to commend rather than fault those who stood by him.
It also warned that the governor should guard against falling into a mindset where he sympathises with those who worked against his political interests.
Beyond the dispute with Fubara, the PDP said the situation in Rivers State highlighted a deeper problem within Nigeria’s democratic system.
According to the party, institutions have become so weakened that powerful individuals now wield disproportionate influence, often using federal might to intimidate opponents and reshape political outcomes.
The party accused the APC of pursuing an agenda aimed at turning Nigeria into a one-party state, warning that the country’s democratic space is shrinking rapidly.
It urged Nigerians and the international community to be vigilant, stressing that unchallenged political domination could push the country toward a form of electoral authoritarianism.
Despite its criticism, the PDP concluded its statement by wishing Governor Fubara well in his new political home, though it made clear that his decision represented a worrying trend for Nigerian democracy.
