Nigeria’s opposition lawmakers have stated that suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, should not be blamed if he defects to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), arguing that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), betrayed him first.

Their remarks come amid growing speculation about Fubara’s potential move to the APC, following his recent visit to President Bola Tinubu in Lagos.

In a statement issued by the opposition lawmakers’ spokesperson, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, on Tuesday, they alleged that PDP weakened its own position by granting political structures to former Governor Nyesom Wike, who now serves as a minister in the APC-led administration.

The statement read, “Well, if Governor Fubara eventually joins the APC, he should not be blamed, but his party, the PDP, betrayed him. It will not be his fault but that of the PDP, which gave the former governor, Nyesom Wike, a serving minister in the APC government, the party’s structure.”

The lawmakers also criticised PDP for supporting defecting legislators who attempted to impeach Fubara, while failing to shield him from political attacks.

“PDP equally supported the lawmakers who decamped to the APC against the governor and wanted to impeach him, but his party did little or nothing to protect Fubara as its leadership was busy hobnobbing with Wike.”

Following the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and Fubara’s suspension, the lawmakers asserted that PDP had done little beyond issuing statements.

It added, “Even after his’ suspension, what did PDP do to help Fubara, apart from issuing mere statements to condemn the president’s action in the afternoon and support it in the night?” (The Guardian)