Port Harcourt—In the wake of gale of defections within Rivers State, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Karibo Wilson, says he is confident that Governor Siminalayi Fubara enjoys great support from the people of the state.
He spoke on Channels Television’s LunchTime Politics on Monday.
The PDP chieftain said traditional leaders, youths, and other segments of the populace have broad support for the governor.
“Rivers people are in support of Fubara—the elders, the traditional rulers, senior political and opinion leaders, the youths, women—they are in support,” he said.
The political situation assumed another dimension on Monday as 27 lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a similar development, several members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the APC joined the PDP over the weekend.
Wilson, a former House of Assembly candidate for Ahoada West constituency, also said that his defection to the PDP was driven by people’s interests.
On the recent defection of 27 PDP lawmakers to the APC, Wilson questioned the motives of the Assembly members, saying any impeachment moves against Fubara is anti-people.
The crisis within the 32-member Assembly originated from a discord between the governor and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is currently serving as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Meanwhile, the 27 lawmakers of the PDP who defected to the APC on Monday cited division within the PDP as the primary reason for their crosscarpetting.
The affected lawmakers are said to be the ones loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The lawmakers, it was gathered held plenary around 8am on Monday where the decision was taken.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has summoned an emergency executive council meeting.
The Punch reports that the meeting, which is presently ongoing is expected to discuss the defection of 27 lawmakers of the State House of Assembly from the PDP to the APC.
The meeting which is being presided over by the governor is the 5th executive council meeting.
The 4th executive council meeting was held on October 27, 2023, where the council approved four draft bills.
