The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has firmly dismissed any possibility of welcoming suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara into the party, insisting that his “sins cannot be forgiven” simply by defecting.
Tony Okocha, Chairman of the party’s Caretaker Committee in Rivers, made the remarks on Tuesday in Abuja while addressing reporters’ questions regarding Fubara’s recent Sallah visit to President Bola Tinubu and its possible political implications.
Okocha clarified that Fubara’s suspension and the state’s ongoing political crisis stem from alleged misconduct, not partisan politics. “If Fubara decides to join the APC, it has nothing to do with the state of emergency in Rivers State. His sins cannot be forgiven because he came to our party,” he stated.
He criticized the notion of the APC being a “dumping ground” for embattled politicians. “You will jump into APC today and your sins are forgiven? That cannot be true. It won’t work that way,” Okocha said, adding that proper party defection protocols must be followed—starting from the ward level.
Okocha also claimed there had been no formal communication or defection notice from Fubara. “He has not spoken to me. He will enter the party through the door, not the window,” he added.
Commenting on Fubara’s visit to the President during the Sallah holiday, Okocha dismissed any concern, saying it was not unusual. “How can I be worried that somebody visited my President? We cannot gag the President and dictate who he sees,” he remarked, noting that other political figures, including Chief Osoba and Nyesom Wike, had also paid courtesy visits during the festivities.
Okocha concluded by debunking reports of reconciliation efforts by Fubara, saying, “There’s nothing like that.”
