The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced that Governor Sim Fubara is expected to return to office on September 18. According to the state APC Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, the party is prepared to work with Fubara upon his resumption of duties.
In a press conference held in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Okocha stated that the party’s decision to collaborate with Fubara does not imply a waiver of their right to hold him accountable for his actions. “We will work with him, just as we do in other states where the governor and assembly members belong to different parties,” Okocha explained. However, he emphasized that the APC will not hesitate to criticize Fubara if he implements policies that are deemed detrimental to the state.
The development follows President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, which led to the suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the state House of Assembly for a period of six months. During this time, a sole administrator was appointed to oversee the state’s affairs.
As the scheduled date for Fubara’s return to office approaches, the APC has indicated its intention to maintain a working relationship with him while also ensuring that his administration is held to account for its actions. The party’s local government chairmen are expected to cooperate with Fubara, although they will not support policies that are considered harmful to the state’s interests.
The situation in Rivers State has been closely monitored since the imposition of the state of emergency, with various stakeholders awaiting the outcome of Fubara’s suspension. With his expected return to office, attention will be focused on how the state’s governance structures will be reestablished and how the APC will balance its commitment to cooperation with its role as an opposition party.
