The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has extended an invitation to Governor Siminalayi Fubara to join the party ahead of his planned reinstatement ceremony. Darlington Nwauju, the reinstated APC spokesman in Rivers State, made the invitation public during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief. Nwauju suggested that if he were in the governor’s position, he would announce his defection to the APC upon his return to the state.

Nwauju stated that the APC would welcome Governor Fubara into the party, and according to the party’s convention, Fubara would automatically become the party’s leader in the state if he were to join. The spokesman also discussed the administration of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, the Administrator of Rivers State, over the past six months. He clarified that the APC in Rivers State has not officially called for a probe into Ibas’ stewardship during this period.

The budget approval received by Ibas was from the National Assembly, and Nwauju expects the relevant committee from the House of Representatives to conduct due diligence and report their findings. President Bola Tinubu and Governor Fubara are expected to return to the country, with Tinubu cutting short his vacation in France and Fubara returning from London. Their return coincides with the preparation for the handover of power in Rivers State, marking the end of the emergency rule.

The Rivers State Administrator has initiated a series of transition activities, and President Tinubu’s early return from his annual holiday suggests a focus on the country’s domestic affairs. Initially scheduled to spend 10 working days abroad, Tinubu’s decision to conclude his break ahead of schedule may indicate a sense of urgency surrounding the transition in Rivers State. As the state prepares to return to democratic rule, the APC’s invitation to Governor Fubara and the impending handover of power are likely to be closely watched by stakeholders and the public alike.