Siminalayi Fubara | File photo
Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, says the 2027 elections will be a “smooth ride” for President Bola Tinubu.
Fubara spoke on Friday during the flag-off of the Rivers airport bypass project.
“Today, I am very happy. I am not just a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC), I am the number one. I have collected my [membership] card and the form is 001,” Fubara said.
“So, from this moment, I am there [in APC] with all my chest and heart. The message is clear: We are going to do everything to make the 2027 election for Mr president a smooth ride in Rivers state.
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“How do we do it? It is with all of you here. With your support. The only way we can continue to tell Mr President thank you is to support him.”
Fubara defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC on December 9, days after 15 members of the Rivers state house of assembly, including Martin Awaewhule, the speaker, joined the ruling party.
Months after the end of the emergency rule in the state, tensions have once again erupted between Fubara and the Rivers assembly.
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On Thursday, the assembly accused Fubara of unapproved spending and of allegedly awarding contracts to his cronies.
The allegation came a day after Fubara had said there was no lingering dispute between him and members of the state house of assembly, noting that claims he has refused to engage with lawmakers are “pure lies”.
The governor said he has made several attempts to meet with the assembly leadership since his reinstatement in September, but no meeting has been scheduled.
But the assembly speaker denied the claim, saying the assembly members met with Fubara in September at the instance of Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
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Amaewhule accused Fubara of reneging on the agreements reached at the meeting.
