APC Rivers Rejects Fubara’s Alleged Defection Plan: “We Are Not a Dumping Ground”

Abuja, Nigeria – The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has firmly rejected any possibility of granting political forgiveness to Governor Siminalayi Fubara should he defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring that the APC is “not a dumping ground for political sinners.”

The declaration was made by the Rivers State APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, Tony Okocha, during a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday. Okocha’s comments came amid growing speculation that Governor Fubara’s recent Sallah visit to President Bola Tinubu may signal an imminent shift in his political allegiance—possibly to the APC.

Okocha, however, swiftly extinguished any such interpretations, emphasizing that Fubara’s ongoing political troubles—including his suspension and discussions about a possible state of emergency in Rivers State—stem from governance failures and not from his party affiliation.

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Fubara Not Welcome Without Due Process, Says Okocha

Reacting pointedly to suggestions that the APC might accept Fubara to shield him from political accountability, Okocha declared: “If Fubara decides to join the APC, it has nothing to do with the state of emergency in Rivers State. His sins cannot be forgiven because he came to our party.”

He added, “You will jump into the APC today, and your sins are forgiven? That cannot be true. It won’t work that way. Then, it would have made the APC a dumping ground for people who commit misdemeanours and believe that, by and large, we will come for reconciliation. No. It is not true.”

Okocha further clarified that Fubara has not made any formal approach to join the APC and must follow proper political protocol if he intends to switch parties. “He will enter the party through the door, not the window,” he said, referring to the necessary ward-level initiation and approval process for political defections. “I have asked, but nobody brought any information about him entering the APC.”

Sallah Visit to Tinubu Not a Political Signal

Okocha also sought to downplay the political significance of Governor Fubara’s visit to President Bola Tinubu during the Sallah holiday. When asked if the visit suggested a potential alignment between the governor and the APC at the federal level, Okocha was dismissive.

“How can I be worried that somebody visited my president?” he asked. “Don’t forget it was also the season of Sallah.” He highlighted that other prominent figures, including former Ogun State Governor Chief Olusegun Osoba and former Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike, also visited the President during the festivities.

According to Okocha, it is the President’s prerogative to meet with any Nigerian leader, regardless of their political affiliation. “We cannot gag the President to say you will see Mr A, you will not see Mr B,” he asserted.

No Reconciliation, No Dialogue, APC Leader Asserts

Addressing questions about potential reconciliatory efforts between Governor Fubara and the APC—either at the state or federal level—Okocha denied any such process was underway. “I am not a prophet of doom. I can only say to you with the benefit of knowledge that I am not aware of any reconciliatory move,” he stated.

He acknowledged that President Tinubu had, in the past, urged warring factions in Rivers politics to seek peace, but insisted that Fubara has not taken any concrete steps in that direction.

“No reconciliation is going on,” Okocha reiterated. “Is it going to talk to Mr President? But Mr President has said go and make peace. No attempt at that. I am not aware of any reconciliatory moves by Fubara and his team.”

The tense political atmosphere in Rivers State continues to generate national headlines. Governor Fubara’s relationship with top political stakeholders—especially figures aligned with the federal government and former governor Nyesom Wike—has grown increasingly strained in recent months.

The APC’s hardline stance signals that Fubara should not expect sanctuary from political accountability through party realignment. As the situation evolves, both his next moves and the response from political actors at the federal and state levels will be closely watched.