The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed readiness to welcome suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara into its fold as the state prepares for his reinstatement on Thursday after the expiration of emergency rule.
Speaking on Channels Television’s ‘The Morning Brief’ on Tuesday, APC spokesperson in Rivers State, Darlington Nwauju urged Governor Fubara to take the opportunity of his return to the state to defect to the ruling party.
“If I were the governor of Rivers State, on my return on Thursday, I would announce my defection to the All Progressives Congress,” Nwauju said.
“I think the governor should join the APC, and we would gladly receive the governor into our party.”
Pressed on whether Fubara would assume leadership of the APC in Rivers should he cross over, Nwauju responded affirmatively.
“By the convention of our party, if he joins the All Progressives Congress, he becomes the leader of the party,” he declared.
The APC spokesman also weighed in on the six-month stewardship of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), who has administered Rivers State under emergency rule.
According to him, while the party has not officially demanded a performance account from Ibas, the National Assembly through its House of Representatives committee remains the appropriate body to evaluate the administrator’s tenure.
“APC has not officially demanded that Ibas give an account of his stewardship for the past six months,” Nwauju explained.
“The budget approval he got was from the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. There is a committee from the House of Representatives overseeing the period of emergency.
“I do expect that the committee should be able to do due diligence, come up with that report, and tell Nigerians what they found out. It is one of their core mandates in the business of legislation and lawmaking.”
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu and Governor Fubara were expected back in the country on Tuesday ahead of Thursday’s formal restoration of democratic governance in Rivers State.
Tinubu, who departed Nigeria on September 4 for a holiday in France and the United Kingdom was meant to spend 10 working days but cut short his trip. Fubara, on the other hand, is expected back from London.
The Rivers State government has intensified preparations for the handover ceremony, which will officially mark the end of emergency rule in the state.
