Fubara Defects to APC, Adeleke to Accord

•Rivers gov: I don’t want to make any mistake this time

•Osun gov: Citizens, workers’ welfare my top priority

•PDP chides Fubara, says his is a case of self-inflicted injury

Chuks Okocha in Abuja, Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has officially defected to All Progressives Congress (APC), five days after 17 members of the House of Assembly abandoned Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for APC.

In Osun State, Governor Ademola Adeleke, who had recently resigned his membership of PDP, declared to use the Accord Party for his re-election, to continue his development projects across Osun State

However, National Working Committee (NWC) of PDP chided Fubara, saying he is suffering from self-inflicted injury.

Announcing the defection immediately after meeting with stakeholders at Government House, Port Harcourt, Fubara said his decision was for the interest of the state.

Fubara, who stated that he wouldn’t want to make any mistakes in his decision, said he visited President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Monday, to inform him of the decision to move to APC.

Fubara repeatedly praised Tinubu for restoring his government after six months’ suspension following political crisis. He said his appreciation was only to Tinubu, Rivers people and no other individual.

The governor stated, “I know you have been expecting to hear from me and more especially this meeting that I had to arrange so urgently. But the meeting is going to end in a very sweet information.

“You are aware that I went to see Mr. President yesterday, and the reason why I went for that visit is not just a personal visit but a state interest consultation. I don’t want to make any mistake this time around. I wish also not to step on any landmine that anyone is laying for us.

“So, I was with Mr. President yesterday to brief him on the situation of things in our state, which I believe he has taken note and is going to act sweetly on it.

“But the most interesting part of the meeting is that what you all have been waiting for, what you have been asking me, the signal has finally arrived.”

Fubara stated that with the latest development, he could now work with his supporters without interference from any external body, stating that the president is in full support of his decisions.

He said, “We have the full support, we have a positive reason to leave where we are because we didn’t get any protection. To go to where the reason why we are still standing is because of that place, and the truth is without Mr. President, there won’t be any His Excellency, Siminalayi Fubara. It would have been former governor.

“So we have every reason, because the truth, let nobody be fooled in this state. We have the people, we have the supporters, and we have the number.

“Our only thank you to Mr. President is to support him. And we cannot support Mr. President in isolation, and we can’t support Mr. President if we don’t fully identify with him, not backyard support.”

He added, “So we have taken that decision today since we have gotten the pass. Everyone here who has followed me, who has suffered with me, our decision today this evening we are moving to APC.”

He thanked his supporters, saying, “I’ve not let you down before. I’m not going to let you down now.

“The message is very simple. We are the ones that will give that support, and we will give that support with a loud ovation because we know that the people of Rivers State are with us. Thank you.”

Adeleke Unveils Accord as Party of Choice

Adeleke unveiled Accord Party as the party of choice for his re-election. He made the announcement at the Banquet hall of Government House, Oshogbo, in the presence of national and state leaders of Accord Party.

The governor said, “I joined the Accord Party more than a month ago precisely November 6th as a platform to seek re-election in 2026. This was after weeks of consultation and deliberations with stakeholders and opinion leaders.

“Stakeholders and residents of Osun State are aware of why we are taking this important decision. We intend to pursue a second term in office on the platform of the Accord Party to complete ongoing delivery of good governance and democratic dividends which have been applauded at home and abroad.

“We opted for the Accord Party because its mission of welfarism aligns with our passionate focus on citizens and workers’ welfare.

“I welcome our party leaders into the Osun State Government House. You are now part of us as I am also now part of you. We are united in progress and good intentions for the good people of Osun state and Nigeria at large.”

Adeleke said, “At this historical point, our task is to sustain a united front as we prepare for the elections. We have a duty to ensure an inclusive leadership where the interests of all groups are cared for. Our party, Accord Party, is here to take over Osun governance and sustain the delivery of good governance in our dear state.

“Since I joined the party more than a month ago, I have been fascinated by the philosophy of this great party. The focus on people’s welfare should always be at the heart of public leadership. The primary essence of a government is the welfare and well-being of the people.”

He said, “As a governor, I have prioritised the welfare of our people, from workers to the entire citizenry. Day and night, we implement policies and programmes to elevate the well-being of our people. From infrastructure to social services, Osun has never had it so good in governance and service delivery.

“Today, we unveil the new platform for the good people of Osun state. From Osun West to Osun East to Osun Central, this is our party, our new platform for victory come August next year.”

The governor added, “From Igbomina to Ijeshaland to Ifeland to Osogbo to Iwoland to Modakeke to Gbongan to Igbajo to Ikire to Ikirun to Ede and other lands of Osun state, we must thumb up according to our collective desires for good governance.

“Osun voted for good governance in 2022 and they will support continuity in 2026. The mass of our people are for continuity and Accord is our party for victory next year.

“In accordance with the will of our stakeholders and to accord deep respect for the wishes of Osun people, I hereby accordingly declare for the Accord Party.”

PDP: Fubara’s Case is Self-inflicted

PDP’s NWC said Fubara inflicted on himself whatever he was suffering in politics.

In a statement by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the party said, ‘’This news as pitiful as it is, is an exemplar of the old legal maxim Volenti non fit injuria, meaning ‘to one who is willing, no harm can be done’.

‘’Everyone who has followed the developments that culminated in this uneventful defection, will recall that the governor willingly travelled the path that took him to this destination.

‘’Having done so voluntarily, he cannot turn around and accuse our party, or any other person or group of abandoning or not protecting him.”

The statement said, “Whilst a person who is at a crossroads of threats of existential proportion, will most likely suffer from temporary amnesia caused by trauma, the governor should have nothing less than praise for our party, civil society organisations.

‘’All Nigerians who freely stood up in his defence since this crisis started until he capitulated. It is our prayer that the governor should not suffer from Stockholm Syndrome, where a victim falls in love with his captor. In all, despite these, we pity the governor and wish him well.”

Ememobong stated, “The Rivers situation is a testament to the dysfunctional nature of our democracy, where individuals are bigger and stronger than institutions and can use the apparatus of the federal government to obfuscate political life out of their opponents and bring them to their knees.

‘’Democracy is terribly threatened by acts of this kind, and all well-meaning people should unify in condemning this progressive decline of democratic norms.

‘’Finally, we reiterate to Nigerians and the global community that with the unrelenting disposition of the ruling party towards the attainment of a one-party state, and the constriction of the political space, democracy is under severe attack in Nigeria. Everyone must rise together to oppose this ignoble trip toward electoral authoritarianism.”