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As Rivers State prepares for a long awaited transition, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has extended a hand of peace to suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, urging him to join the party upon his reinstatement this Thursday, September 18.The invitation, articulated by APC spokesperson Darlington Nwauju on Channels Television’s ‘The Morning Brief’, signals a strategic effort to unify the state’s fractured political landscape.
“If I were the governor, I’d declare my defection to the APC upon my return,” Nwauju stated, emphasizing that the party is ready to embrace Fubara as its state leader. This overture comes as Rivers emerges from six months of emergency rule, imposed by President Bola Tinubu in March to quell a fierce power struggle between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now FCT Minister.
The timing of the APC’s gesture is critical. Fubara, who is in London, is set to return alongside President Tinubu, who cut short his European vacation to oversee the reinstatement. Sole Administrator Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), appointed to stabilize governance, has described his tenure as a period of calm amid chaos, with preparations underway for a seamless handover. Ibas has been directed to submit a comprehensive report detailing funds, revenues, expenditures, and projects executed during the emergency period. The APC’s confidence is buoyed by its recent sweep of 20 out of 23 local government seats in the August 30 elections, a victory bolstered by Supreme Court rulings affirming the defection of Wike-aligned lawmakers from the PDP to the APC.
However, the APC’s outreach masks underlying tensions. While APC Chairman Chief Tony Okocha has pledged cooperation with Fubara post-reinstatement, he also warned of accountability measures, citing the governor’s alleged disregard for court rulings. Fubara’s camp has remained silent on the defection offer, though insiders hint at possible reconciliation talks brokered by Tinubu to mend the Wike-Fubara rift that crippled the state assembly and triggered the emergency rule. PDP loyalists have slammed the APC’s move as a calculated attempt to capitalize on Fubara’s precarious position, with some warning it could deepen divisions rather than foster unity. As Rivers residents grow weary of disruptions—from the demolished assembly complex to frozen federal allocations—the APC’s invitation could either pave the way for stability or spark new rivalries.
With the reinstatement ceremony looming, the APC’s hand of peace to Fubara marks a defining moment for Rivers State’s political future. As Tinubu’s presence underscores federal commitment to stability, calls for restraint echo from community leaders and youth groups alike. Whether Fubara accepts the APC’s offer or charts a different course remains uncertain, but the stakes are high in Nigeria’s oil-rich heartland. The coming days will determine whether this gesture fosters collaboration or sets the stage for another chapter of political maneuvering ahead of the 2027 elections.
