PDP slams Fubara’s defection to APC as ‘pitiful’

Kindly share this story:

The Peoples Democratic Party has expressed pity for Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, for defecting to the All Progressives Congress, insisting that his political troubles are self-inflicted, having willingly taken the path that led to his current predicament.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, in a statement released on Tuesday, said the Rivers crisis exposes a broken democracy where powerful individuals overpower institutions and use federal machinery to crush their opponents.

Fubara, after meeting President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Monday, announced in Port Harcourt on Tuesday that he, along with some appointees and supporters, had left the PDP for the APC.

He said the move was driven by their decision to back President Tinubu, adding that they did not receive the protection they expected from the PDP.

In his reaction, the PDP National Publicity Secretary said he hopes Fubara does not fall into Stockholm Syndrome, where a victim becomes attached to his oppressor.

PDP stated, “The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has received the news of the formal defection of His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State, from our Party to the ruling party. 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.

“Whilst a person who is at a crossroad 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, and 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.

“Furthermore, 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.”

The PDP Publicity Secretary warned that Nigeria’s democracy is in danger, stressing that the ruling party’s push toward a one-party system and shrinking of the political space poses a serious threat.

He continued, “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.”

Abdulrahman has nearly ten years of experience reporting on political parties, elections, religion, civil society organizations, the Nigeria Governors Forum, and more

Kindly share this story:

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: [email protected]

UPDATE NEWS: Nigerians can now invest ₦2.5million on premium domains and profit about ₦17-₦25Million. All earnings paid in US Dollars. Rather than wonder, 👉 click here to find out how it work (Be sure to ask for evidence of clients that have benefitted from this)

Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow The Punch Newspaper on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don't miss a headline – join now!

Stay in the know—fast. Get instant alerts, breaking headlines, and exclusive stories with the Punch News App. Download now and never miss a beat.