Rivers State Assembly Defection: LP’s Itubo Mulls Next Move After Talks with Governor Fubara

In the midst of the escalating political crisis in Rivers State, Beatrice Itubo, the Labour Party’s 2023 Governorship Candidate, is currently in discussions with Governor Siminalayi Fubara of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The meeting between Governor Fubara and Itubo took place in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State. Itubo confirmed the ongoing discussions, stating, “I met with the Governor, and discussions are still in progress.”

While she did not provide specific details regarding the nature of the talks, whether it involves her defection from the LP to the PDP or potential support for Fubara’s administration from her party, Itubo mentioned that she would disclose further information once their deliberations are concluded.

The political landscape in Rivers State has witnessed significant shifts, with 27 members of the State House of Assembly defecting from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday. This defection is reportedly linked to their loyalty to Martins Amaewhule, an ally of former governor Nyesom Wike.

The discord within the 32-member Assembly stems from a rift between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Wike. In the midst of these developments, elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark has once again urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and call Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to order regarding the political situation in Rivers State. Clark emphasized the potential chaos if former governors persist in controlling their successors.