The factional chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, Emeka Beke, has expressed readiness to welcome suspended governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, into the party.
There had been rumours of Mr Fubara’s possible defection to the APC after completing a six-month suspension imposed on him by President Bola Tinubu.
But speaking during an interview with the Punch, Mr Beke said the ruling party would not reject the embattled governor.
He said such a move would be mutually beneficial to both Mr Fubara and the APC.
Mr Beke, who spoke through his chief of staff, Chizi Enyi, said: “Sure, we will welcome the governor. Do we have an option? Welcoming the governor into the party will mean the APC gains a strategic advantage in Rivers State.”
He noted that states where the governor is not from the ruling party often face challenges in funding and participation in state activities.
According to him, Mr Fubara’s defection would give the APC greater leverage and visibility in the state’s governance.
“As the governor of Rivers State, he automatically becomes the leader of the party at the state level. This would also allow the APC to play a key role in state programmes and functions,” he added.
Mr Beke further stated that he would be open to offering guidance to Fubara on how to improve governance in the state.
He explained that while the APC, as the opposition, had previously withheld such advice, the dynamic would change should the governor join the party.
“As an opposition party, we have what it takes to help the governor do better than what he is currently doing. But we have kept our suggestions as part of our ideology.
“If the governor joins us, we’ll open our hearts to him and offer input on how to improve the lives of Rivers people and others residing in the state,” he said.
