APC Cleared Fubara Only to Trap Him and Block Defection to NDC – Comr Fortune Jumbo
“They Will Deliver the Final Disappointment During Primaries When Defection Windows Close”
A prominent Rivers State political commentator, Comr Fortune Jumbo, has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) strategically cleared Governor Siminalayi Fubara to prevent him from defecting to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), only to sideline him later at the primaries.
In a strongly worded statement, Comr Jumbo claimed the recent screening exercise by the APC in Rivers State, which disqualified most of Governor Fubara’s loyalists while clearing those aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, is part of a calculated move to keep the governor within the party until it is too late for him to defect.
“APC cleared Fubara to withhold him from decamping to the NDC. They will give him the final disappointment during the primaries, during which the windows for decamping might have closed,” Jumbo stated.
The political crisis in Rivers State has intensified following the APC screening committee’s decision to disqualify over 30 aspirants backed by Governor Fubara for the Rivers State House of Assembly primaries ahead of the 2027 elections.
Those disqualified include key allies such as former factional Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo and other pro-Fubara figures. In contrast, aspirants loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike were largely cleared.
Analysts say the development has heightened speculations that Governor Fubara might consider leaving the APC for the newly emerging NDC, especially after some of his associates and family members have reportedly shown interest in the alternative platform.
However, Governor Fubara has publicly dismissed rumours of defection, insisting he remains a committed member of the APC. In a recent statement, he said: “I’m a member of the All Progressives Congress and nothing has changed. People should stop using whatever situation… to present me wrongly.”
Despite Fubara’s denial, Comr Fortune Jumbo believes the governor is being politically outmanoeuvred.
“He was cleared at the governorship level perhaps to dangle the carrot and keep him in the fold. But the real game will play out at the primaries. By then, the time to legally decamp or pursue other options may have elapsed,” Jumbo added.
Political observers note that the ongoing rift between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who remains influential in the APC, continues to shape the political landscape in Rivers State. The disqualification of Fubara-backed aspirants has been interpreted by many as a move to weaken the governor’s structure ahead of 2027.
As the political permutations continue, stakeholders are watching closely to see whether Governor Fubara will stay and fight within the APC or explore other platforms like the NDC to secure his political future and that of his allies.
Comr Fortune Jumbo urged Fubara and his team to be vigilant, warning that “what looks like clearance today may turn out to be a trap tomorrow.”
The coming weeks are expected to be decisive as parties intensify preparations for primaries and the all-important 2027 general elections.
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