Akpabio: Fubara, Diri are next to join APC — south-south will vote Tinubu in 2027

Senate President Godswill Akpabio says Siminalayi Fubara, suspended governor of Rivers, and Douye Diri of Bayelsa are next in line to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Akpabio spoke on Saturday during a reception ceremony to welcome Umo Eno, Governor of Akwa Ibom, to the ruling party.

The event took place at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, the state capital.

The ceremony was attended by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Abdullahi Ganduje, APC national chairman, and some governors and senators elected on the platform of the party.

On June 6, Eno announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.

Akpabio stated that the event represented more than just a defection but a movement and a “reunification of Akwa Ibom with Nigeria”.

The senate president, a former governor of Akwa Ibom, said Eno and Sheriff Oborevwori, governor of Delta, defecting to the ruling party shows that south-south states are now shifting towards the APC.

“It was a little bit of a surprise when we (south-south) attempted to go different ways in 2023,” he said.

“Today, Governor Otu is no longer an orphan. Thank you for being here to welcome your brothers, and you will welcome more brothers.

“Governor Sheriff of Delta, thank you for joining the progressives’ family and moving the south-south in the progressives’ direction.

“Governor Uno Eno, after you, who knows? Rivers state will tumble. After Rivers, Bayelsa will join.

“Of course, we have won the election in Edo state. We produced our amiable senator, Monday Okpebholo.”

The senate president added that the south-south states will vote in one direction for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

“Come 2027, south-south will go one way; the south-south will vote for President Bola Tinubu,” he added.

“I see you becoming the first re-elected governor in 2027. I see the president getting 99.9 percent votes in 2027.”

The ruling APC is at the moment controlling four out of the six south-south states– only two, Rivers and Bayelsa, are not controlled by the ruling APC.