Politics
Defection Rumours Rise As Fubara Faces Mounting Assembly Fire
Speculation is mounting that Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, may soon dump the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress following fresh political turbulence in the state.
Last Friday, 17 members of the House of Assembly loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike and led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule announced their defection from the PDP to the APC, instantly shifting the legislature’s balance of power. The only three lawmakers considered loyal to Fubara have not resumed sitting since the six-month emergency rule in the state was lifted, deepening uncertainty around the governor’s political future.
Speaking with The PUNCH, a PDP chieftain and former member of the House of Representatives, Ogbonna Nwuke, said recent political movements in the South-South suggest Fubara may eventually head to the ruling party at the centre.
Nwuke, who represented Etche–Omuma in the National Assembly and once served as Rivers Commissioner for Information, said the defection of governors in Delta, Akwa Ibom and, most recently, Bayelsa—formerly PDP strongholds—points to a broader trend that may pull Fubara along.
He said, “If you look at what is going on in the South-South, governors elected on the PDP platform have decamped. Did we expect the Rivers lawmakers to move? It may have come as a surprise, but when you consider the crisis in the PDP, was it avoidable? Possibly not.
“When a party is bedevilled by crisis, people will naturally look for alternatives. The anti-defection provisions in the constitution recognise differences at the national level, and there are clear indications of such differences in the PDP.”
Describing the PDP’s recent internal actions—including issuing an unprecedented “expulsion certificate”—as signs of deep-seated turmoil, Nwuke said PDP members are simply reacting to a party that “has not been this divided in a long time.”
On whether Fubara might soon join the APC, he said, “There are speculations that the APC has been wooing the governor. Only he can confirm whether he is crossing. But what we’re seeing suggests he may consider leaving the PDP. And if he does, he will not be the first.”
But a senior Government House official, who asked not to be named, dismissed the rumours, insisting Governor Fubara had shown no sign of defecting.
“We are not aware that the governor wants to defect,” he said. “Even the lawmakers claiming to have moved to the APC have not fulfilled the Supreme Court requirement of registering at their wards. Until they produce evidence, nobody should take their claims seriously.”
The official added that the APC’s upcoming national convention means anyone intending to join the party at this time “would have shown clear signals,” which Fubara has not.
“I don’t see any sign and he has not told us he will be joining the APC. Very soon the APC will round off receiving defectors because in December they will hold their convention. If the governor wanted to move, he would have shown signs by now. But let’s keep our fingers crossed,”he added.
Similarly, the factional PDP chairman in Rivers State, Robinson Ewor, mocked the defected lawmakers, saying the party would work to reclaim its mandate.
“My prayer is that they shouldn’t deny again,” he said. “There is no division in the PDP that justifies their action. What they are holding is the PDP’s mandate.”
Ewor vowed that the PDP would reclaim its mandate from the defected lawmakers.
“We must definitely talk to the remaining PDP lawmakers. And for those who have moved, the party must make an effort to reclaim its mandate. What they are holding is the PDP mandate.”
When asked if he would welcome Fubara to the APC, state APC chairman, Tony Okocha, said he had not been contacted by the governor.
“I’m not a soothsayer. The governor has not reached out to me. If I have the opportunity of talking to him, I will advise him to follow his mind. Why put the cart before the horse?” he said.
Meanwhile, fresh tension may be brewing as the Amaewhule-led Assembly continues to sit at the lawmakers’ residential quarters along Aba Road, despite Fubara’s insistence that the newly reconstructed Assembly complex will be ready this month and his promise to present the 2026 budget there.
At their sitting last Friday, Amaewhule queried the governor’s delay in forwarding a full list of commissioner-nominees to the House, noting that Fubara was running the state with only eight commissioners—an action he said contravenes constitutional expectations.
Nigerian journalist, Seun Okinbaloye, has raised alarm that the 2027 general election is being rigged through the voters’ register.
Naija News reports that Okinbaloye raised the alarm on Friday during Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.
Okinbaloye said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must act now and clean up the voters’ register.
He said that intelligence and early signs show that politicians have started manipulating the voters’ register, with cases of underage registration, double registration, and ghost voters already surfacing across the country.
He further called on INEC to immediately commence a thorough audit and clean-up of the voters’ register to remove fake names, dead voters, and underage voters.
Okinbaloye said Nigerians must not wait till election day to cry rigging, because the foundation for rigging is already being laid through a compromised register.
He said, “The 2027 election is already being rigged right now. Not on election day. It is being rigged with the voters’ register. If INEC does not clean it up now, we are wasting our time.
“If the register is dirty, the election is dirty. INEC must act now.”
Meanwhile, African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called on INEC to disclose the names of the officials responsible for including Artificial Intelligence (AI)- generated photographs in the voter register.
Atiku made the call in a statement by the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu.
He accused the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration of enabling the crisis by allowing INEC to evade scrutiny.
The former vice president said the AI-generated images scandal strikes at the heart of the commission’s credibility.
He called on opposition leaders and the international community to demand an independent audit, full disclosure and accountability on the voter register scandal.
Joseph Danjuma has resigned his membership and position as Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Nasarawa State, with immediate effect.
In his October 27, 2026 letter to the NDC state chairman, Danjuma said he lacked opportunities to perform his duties as spokesperson.
Danjuma also joined the campaign of former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, who is seeking the Nasarawa governorship under the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Nasarawa State, Joseph Danjuma has resigned from the party.
He also declared support for the governorship ambition of former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu.
Daily Voice reports that Danjuma announced his resignation in a letter dated Tuesday, October 27, 2026, addressed to the state chairman of the NDC.
He explained that his decision followed his inability to carry out his responsibilities effectively as the party’s spokesperson in the state.
He also announced his decision to join the campaign of Adamu, who is seeking to become the next governor of Nasarawa State under the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Danjuma explained that his decision to support the former police chief was based on his assessment of Adamu’s leadership qualities.
He wrote in the letter: “I wish to humbly resign my membership and position as the Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Nasarawa State Chapter, with immediate effect.
“My decision follows the lack of opportunity to perform my role as the spokesperson of the party in the state.
“With this development, I hereby fully join the campaign train of Ex-IGP Adamu. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.”
Olujonwo Obasanjo, son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has backed the re-election of President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He expressed his support after joining the Tinubu Movement for Sustainable Governance Foundation (TMS), popularly known as the “Tinubu Must Stay” movement, to promote the president’s re-election agenda.
Olujonwo said his decision to join the movement was informed by his longstanding association with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and his belief in the need to sustain the policies and reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration.
He was formally received by the leadership of TMS at a forum in Abuja, where he expressed support for the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and called for increased public awareness of its policies and achievements.
Olujonwo, who serves as president of the Buhari Youth Organisation (BYO) and Project One Nigeria, as well as Senior Special Assistant to the Ogun State Governor on Housing, said he had been associated with the APC since 2014.
Explaining his political background, he said he was familiar with the party’s formation and its relationship with key political figures, including his father, former President Obasanjo, the late President Muhammadu Buhari and President Tinubu.
“I have been in the APC since 2014. I was there when my father hosted the late President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to form the movement. I am not new to the party,” he said.APC party merchandise
He argued that some of the policies and achievements of the Tinubu administration were not being adequately communicated to Nigerians, adding that misinformation had contributed to negative perceptions of the government.
Olujonwo cited developments in the education sector, infrastructure and access to student loans as areas he believed deserved greater public attention.
“There is a lot of noise out there, and people are distorting what is going on. ASUU has had no strikes. Students have access to loans. Nigeria has become a massive construction site and an investors’ haven again. These are things we need to promote,” he said.
His decision to join the movement comes as political parties and their supporters begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general election, in which Tinubu is expected to seek another presidential term.
The move also places the son of the former president within a political platform established to defend the current administration’s policies and encourage public support for continuity in governance.
Welcoming Olujonwo to the movement, the National Coordinator of TMS and Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said his background gave him an understanding of the importance of economic reforms.
Inuwa drew a comparison between the economic reforms introduced during Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration and those being pursued by Tinubu, arguing that both periods involved policies intended to reshape Nigeria’s economy.
He cited telecommunications liberalisation and banking reforms under the elder Obasanjo as measures that helped establish the foundation for subsequent economic development.
“You grew up in a family that led the second wave of reforms in Nigeria. Telecommunications liberalisation, banking reforms—these laid a solid foundation. Being raised in that family, you understand what reforms mean,” Inuwa said.
He urged Nigerians to consider the long-term implications of government policies, warning that reversing ongoing reforms could undermine investor confidence and disrupt economic progress.
According to him, maintaining policy consistency would be important for attracting investment and sustaining developments in key sectors of the economy.
“We are building investors’ confidence. The naira is becoming strong. Our stock exchange is one of the fastest-growing. The Dangote Refinery is a game changer. If we start reversing these policies, we’ll go back to where we were,” Inuwa added.
Also speaking at the event, Marcel Ngogbehei, Director-General of TMS and a former coordinator of the Obidient Movement, praised the economic policies implemented during Obasanjo’s presidency.
Ngogbehei highlighted the former president’s role in securing debt relief for Nigeria and supporting the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector, describing those measures as important contributions to the country’s economic development.
He said TMS intended to promote discussions about government policies through evidence, research and public engagement rather than propaganda.
“We’re happy you have decided to take this step. Your father was one of those who revolutionised this country. The debt was paid off, and major innovations were introduced in liberalising the economy. This is not about propaganda. We will engage respectfully, factually and transparently,” Ngogbehei said.
The organisation said it had established structures across the country, including a Board of Trustees, national coordinators and specialised directorates, to support its activities.
It also plans to use digital platforms, virtual town hall meetings, policy research and fact-checking initiatives to promote the government’s policies and address what it considers misinformation about the administration.
Following Olujonwo’s reception, TMS announced plans to expand its engagement with professional associations, youth organisations and community groups across the country.
The planned activities are intended to increase public participation in governance and communicate the administration’s policies to Nigerians across different states and geopolitical zones.
Meanwhile, Olusegun Obasanjo has previously expressed concerns about Nigeria’s economic challenges, arguing that the country has sufficient natural and human resources to become prosperous.
In an interview on C-Suite Cafe, hosted by Ikem Okuhu, the former president questioned why Nigeria continued to struggle with poverty despite its agricultural potential, vast land, water resources and large population.Buy Maps
“Give me one reason why Nigeria should be poor. Is it the land that we don’t have or the desert that we are in or the people that we don’t have or the water that we don’t have or the rain that we don’t have?” he asked.
Obasanjo also criticised policies that encourage the importation of goods that could be produced locally, arguing that such practices discourage domestic farmers and undermine local production.
He recalled how restrictions on rice imports were introduced in 1979 to encourage domestic production, claiming that subsequent administrations reversed the policy and allowed imported rice to compete with locally produced varieties.
“When our successors came, one of the first things they did was to lift importation of rice, not to encourage production of rice but to encourage importation of rice, and the farmers couldn’t sell their own rice,” he said.
JUST IN: Nigerian Gov Approves 13th-Month Bonus
Full List: 28 States That Approved State Police
