Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara has stated that he was never formally a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), attributing the majority of the political challenges he faced to the party.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday night after visiting the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretariat in Abuja, Fubara said his difficulties during past political crises were largely imposed on him by PDP.
“If I have to be honest, was I really a member of the PDP? I wasn’t. Whatever I suffered during the political crisis, 90 per cent of it was imposed on me by the party,” Fubara said. He described his stance during the crises as detached, likening himself to being “at the balcony” rather than inside the political fray.
The governor recently joined the APC and explained that his visit to the party’s headquarters was aimed at familiarising himself with its leadership, structure, and operations. “I can’t belong to a house without first coming into the house and understanding how it is arranged,” he said.
Fubara emphasised that the visit was a preparatory step to ensure he would not appear new to party members in future engagements. “I felt it would be proper for me to visit the National Secretariat today to familiarise myself with the members and the operations. This way, when I come here next time, it won’t feel as if I am a new person,” he added.
Political analysts note that Fubara’s clarification comes amid heightened speculation over his defection from PDP to APC, a move that could reshape party dynamics in Rivers State. His comments underline the ongoing tensions within Nigeria’s political landscape, particularly in states with strong partisan rivalries.
Fubara’s remarks also raise questions about internal party democracy and the treatment of political aspirants within Nigeria’s major parties, with observers suggesting his experience reflects broader systemic issues in the nation’s political structures.
