Senate President Comfired Diri, Fubara Will Be Joining APC Before 2027
…Tinubu to Gov. Eno: ‘You Won’t Regret Joining APC’
From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
In a major political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has hinted that the governors of Bayelsa and Rivers states, Senator Douye Diri and Siminalayi Fubara respectively, will soon dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Akpabio made the disclosure on Saturday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, during a grand rally to formally welcome Governor Umo Eno into the APC. The rally, which drew thousands of party faithful and top political figures from across the country, marks a significant political shift in the South-South region, traditionally a stronghold of the PDP.
Addressing the mammoth crowd, Akpabio declared, “This is not a defection; this is a movement. After Governor Eno, Rivers State will tumble, then Bayelsa will join. Come 2027, the entire South-South will go one way — vote for President Bola Tinubu.”
President Bola Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the event, expressed confidence in Governor Eno’s decision to join the APC. He assured the governor of federal backing and inclusive governance, promising that the people of Akwa Ibom would benefit immensely from their alignment with the party at the center.
“We move forward not by clinging to what divides us, but by rallying around what unites us. Your decision to come to the APC is one you will never regret,” Shettima said on behalf of the President. “No one will question your place here. The party is your home. You will not be humiliated; you will not be frustrated.”
National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, also hailed the governor’s defection as a courageous move out of what he described as “national isolation.” He noted that the switch would pave the way for more federal presence in Akwa Ibom and the entire South-South geopolitical zone.
“With this move, the execution of critical projects like the Ibom Deep Seaport and federal roads becomes easier. Governor Eno has demonstrated uncommon political wisdom by moving into national integration,” Ganduje stated.
He further lauded Governor Eno’s performance since assuming office, noting that his achievements are a continuation of the development strides initiated by his predecessor, Udom Emmanuel.
In his remarks, Governor Umo Eno said the decision to leave the PDP was not taken lightly but was driven by a desire to secure greater federal attention and benefits for the people of Akwa Ibom.
“We have taken a risk by moving to the center,” Eno said. “But we believe it’s a risk worth taking if it means we can get long-delayed federal projects off the ground — especially the Ibom Deepsea Port, and other infrastructural developments.”
The event was attended by an array of governors and high-ranking APC leaders, including the governors of Delta, Lagos, Cross River, Imo, Ebonyi, Kogi, Kebbi, Ekiti, Ondo, Edo, Kwara, and Gombe states, among others. Their presence underscored the strategic importance the APC attaches to strengthening its base in the South-South.
Political observers view Governor Eno’s defection as a signal of more realignments to come, especially as the race toward 2027 begins to take shape. With Akpabio’s public declaration regarding Diri and Fubara, the political landscape of the Niger Delta is poised for significant transformation.
