By George Mgbeleke

Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara on Wednesday, broke his silence over widespread speculations that he had defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the ongoing realignment of political forces ahead of the 2027 General Elections..

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka Nzeshi,Governor Fubara made the clarification during an inspection tour of the newly constructed General Hospital and the fully remodelled Neuropsychiatric Hospital, both in Rumuigbo, Obiakpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Fubara said that contrary to the erroneous reports in a section of the media in the last couple of days, suggesting that he had joined another political party, he remained a member of the ruling party and will continue to work for the overall interest of the party.

“I know that there have been a lot of drama in the media; one story or another. I am a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and nothing has changed. People should stop using whatever situation that they pick up from the social media or their own interpretation of any situation to present me wrongly.

“I’ve not gone anywhere; I’m still a member of the APC and I remain a member. Whatever happens, what is important is supporting the overall interest of the party,” he said.

Governor Fubara was conducted round the facilities by the Director of Medical Services in the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, who led him through the hospital wards, a conference hall, ICT centre, students hostel, staff quarters, and other critical sections.

He expressed delight at the completion of the two projects which according to him, were conceived to address critical needs in the health sector in the state. He recalled that the while the rehabilitation of the Psychiatric Hospital became necessary at some point, the administration also discovered that the area had no General Hospital to take care of the basic health needs of the people.

“This very project, if you could remember, when we came in we had an issue that required our sudden visit and it had to do with mental health. So when we came here for the inspection of the Rehabilitation Centre that the board was trying to put together, we found out that we had more issues than even the mental health issue.

“We didn’t have a General Hospital to serve the people within this area. The closest medical center that they had here was the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital ( UPTH) which is very far from here. We felt that with the space we have in this compound, it will be proper for us to also have a General Hospital situated in this particular facility to take care of the neighboring communities up to Rumuola, Rumuolumeni and all the surrounding areas.
“Today, to the glory of God, we can see that the project is already completed. It is not 95 percent complete, it is a hundred percent completed.

“We’re happy because, it is a promise made and a promise fulfilled. Like I’ll always say, what is important is doing what will touch the life of our people. Our people should be first and that is how important this project is for us in this administration,” he said.

By David Owei,Bayelsa

The chairman of Bayelsa state Traditional Rulers Council, who also doubles as the chairman of the National Conference of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders ( N-CITRE ) His Royal Majesty King Bubaraye Dakolo ,the Ibenanowei of Ekpetiama kingdom,Agada iv, says he still that the N-CITRE still remains the highest organ that superintendents over the Ijaw National Congress and other persons or group that flout it’s order in inaugurating any body and as National President of INC,is an exercise in futility as the purported April 13th 2026 election lacked legitimacy and had constitutional lacuna,urging the general public to discountence it.

He stated this while briefing the the media on the current crisis that is plaguing the ljaw National Congress,INC,stating that the N-CITRE and other stakeholders across the ljaw Nation warned against the unconstitutional and illegal attempt to swear in an unconstitutional and illegitimate leadership of INC arising from the highly disputed April 13th,2026 electoral process.
He urged all to maintain the status quo.
He he still insist on
“The April 10, 2026 N-CITRE resolution in line with Article 14, D, 2 (e), (f), (g) of the INC 2019
Constitution, suspending all electoral activities, was clear and officially known, yet the president and the
electoral committee proceeded in defiance of that directive. The president and N-ELECO also ignored
interventions by the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri and other well-meaning Ijaw elders,
civil society organizations, and interest groups, advising that the elections be suspended pending the
resolution of outstanding disputes and constitutional concerns.

He therefore noted with utter dismay the attempts to legitimize an inauguration ceremony by invoking the
names of respected public officials like the Governor of Bayelsa state without authorization.
This act is
suggestive of a desperate attempt by Prof Okaba and his co-conspirators to extend his tenure through the
back door, all to cover his many misdeeds.

The N-CITRE also notes with concern that most of the perpetrators of
this ignoble attempt to factionalize the INC emanated from the western zone, which is the zone of Prof.
Okaba. The consequences of such actions should be clear to all.
We believe that legitimacy cannot be manufactured through disputed procedures, factional sponsorship,
or ceremonial swearings-in conducted in violation of constitutional order and judicial authority. Any
leadership emerging from the disputed process would lack the moral, constitutional, and representative
legitimacy required to speak on behalf of the Ijaw people” he said .

He further explained that in history of INC,the leadership was always sworn in Bayelsa state by N-CITRE which he heads and by midnight today the tenure of prof Benjamin Okaba has elapsed and the constitution states that the chairman of N-CITRE takes responsibilities of running the organization until an eleco was put in place to conduct an election to swear in a National executive that will run the fore most Ijaw socio – political organization that will
restore INC to constitutional order and prevent it from being
annihilated.

The consequences of this current situation could lead to the formation of an alternative body
to serve the interest of the Ijaw people.
“Also there are court orders baring anybody from swearing anybody”
” Nobody in CITRE ,or from ELECO should swear in anybody .And that sail through ,it will portend a lot of problems for the Ijaw nation. INC is not a lawless entity”

‎
‎By Emmanuel Ikpe
‎
‎Based the fact that President Bola Tinubu and Governor Umo Eno have allegedly failed to fulfill all their important campaign promises, especially to give Nigerians steady power supply and Akwa Ibom people Ibom Deep Seaport, it is fundamentally correct that the APC should not be voted back to power comes 2027.
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‎Engr Augustine Udoh, a PDP stalwart and ICT Entrepreneur gave the charge while speaking with a group of reporters in Uyo on issues of public importance,  good governance, human development and egalitarian society and related political developments in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria as a whole over the weekend.
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‎Described the Supreme Court verdict as unbecoming with a view that it ought not to have gone to court in the first place if not for the class of greedy people among them who bent on tearing the part for selfish political interest.
‎Arguing that it is uncalled for that one could assumed to be a member of PDP but is working for the other party and her presidential candidate, a situation he blamed on former governor of Rivers State, Barr Nyesom Wike and his co-travellers and supporters.
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‎He observed that those who are having the interest of the PDP at heart are the ones perpetrating disunity, disharmony and disaffection among party members.
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‎”We stand on the mandate of the supreme court and the Turaki led PDP, though it seems INEC is working with Federal government against interest of supposed opposition parties in order to favor APC and Tinubu government, we believe the will of the people will prevail, says Udoh.
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‎”The people are aware of the situation in the country and they need a new directions, that is why we tow the path of alignment between PDP and other opposition parties like the ADC, to filed a candidate or otherwise to salvage Nigeria ”
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‎Adding that the future of PDP in Nigeria is still bright and there’s hope that PDP will bounce back with good package for Nigeria.
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‎”The people are no longer interested in APC government, due her inability to fulfill her campaign promises, that instead of change and progress and development, Nigerians are going through hardship, suffering, killings, hunger, sicknesses and there’s no hope that this country can be better if APC continue in power”.
‎
‎”look Nigeria, there’s no constant power supply, the presidency is using solar, this people have failed foofly, they don’t have anything to offer, look at small countries like Bene Republic, Ghana, and Nigeria has steady electricity, but Nigeria is retrogressive, this is caused by bad governance.
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‎”Tinubu said that if he cannot give Nigerians steady power supply, he should not be voted back, and we stand by that his declaration, that he should not be voted back and no APC state should be voted in in 2027 APC do not have good idealogies for Nigeria and it is high time Nigerians realize that they are deceptive and lack ideas except borrowing”, he added.
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‎He expressed the enthusiasm that PDP which used to be a religion in Akwa Ibom will resurface after the incumbent governor Umo Eno is voted out by 2027
‎ ” Akwa Ibom people are very disappointed by the action of Gov Umo Eno to deceived the citizens and politicians that he will give the state a deep seaport,  a reason he gave for defecting to APC to align with central, and this disrupted the the way PDP used to be a religion. You look now,  what signature project has the government of Umo Eno has achieved so far, and I wonder what they will used to campaign in 2027.”
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‎He dismissed the assumption that APC has done anything good in the country except the bad policies, programs,  hardship, suffering, insecurities and lack humanity sympathy,  high cost of living which PDP will come to undo and change the situation around for better.
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‎As we walked towards the election year, He urged Nigerians and Akwa Ibom people to work with one mind, by coming up with policies and ideologies that will turn things around because the current policies and ideologies of the APC government does not work by voting for people with good vision and human interest at heart like the PDP.
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