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.

Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, first daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has confirmed knowledge of the political billboards bearing her image and springing up across Abeokuta ahead of the 2027 elections were erected by her supporters.

Obasanjo-Bello, now an Associate Professor of Public Health at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, United States, said that although she is “not keen on contesting for any political office in 2027,” her political future ultimately rests in the hands of God and her supporters.

The former Commissioner for Health and one-time senator for Ogun Central (2007–2011) stated this in Sagamu during an interview with Remo TV at the 70th birthday celebration of a former National President of the National Council of Women Societies, Chief Mrs Gloria Shoda.

Recently, large billboards featuring the former senator have appeared in major parts of Abeokuta, including Abiola Way near the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Oke Mosan opposite the Immigration office, and Brewery Junction.

The billboards carry the bold message: “In Ogun State, we know ourselves. Sen (Prof) Iyabo Obasanjo. Omo wa ni, eniyan wa ni, ara wa ni.

But speaking in the interview with Remo TV, which went viral on the social media,  Obasanjo-Bello clarified that she is not actively seeking a political comeback.

“There are some people who have worked with me in the past. They came together and said, ‘This is who we like.’ I told them to stop it—that I am living a good life. I live in the US, I teach at the university, and I am fine

But she said her supporters persuaded her to let them proceed.

“People told me to let them be, after all, they are not asking me for money. They said it was a sign of love and that I did well while in politics. They said stopping them would dampen their enthusiasm. So I have allowed them. Nobody can say I am actively campaigning for anything, but I have given these people the go-ahead.”

She added that the renewed calls for her return to politics underscores that leaders should always act with integrity.

“If you do good, people will come back and we still want you for something. Whether what they want now becomes reality is not in my hands but in their hands and God’s hand.

“I don’t know if I am interested in politics again. I have built a very good life for myself. I love teaching; I love encouraging my students. I love to guide people and provide mentorship. There are several people in Ogun State that I have helped to become who they are today.

Meanwhile,  Obasanjo-Bello said she was in Sagamu to honour Mrs Shoda, whom she praised as “an epitome of womaness…a formidable woman who has led at various times.”

She also spoke about her longstanding link to Remo land, noting: “My grandmother, Alice Akinlawon née Ogunlaja, is from Ode Remo. Our family house is still there. I am the Iyalode of Ode Remo, a title bestowed on me by the late Alaye of Ode Remo, Oba Funso Adeolu, popularly known as Eleyinmi.”

Born on April 27, 1967,  Obasanjo-Bello trained as a veterinary doctor at the University of Ibadan before becoming Commissioner for Health between 2003 and 2007, and later senator between 2007 and 2011.

She lost her 2011 re-election bid to Gbenga Obadara of the Action Congress of Nigeria and subsequently returned to the United States.

Her campaign billboards  have sparked speculation that she may contest again in 2027, possibly on the platform of the African Democratic Congress.

A prominent politician in the state, who preferred anonymity, told our correspondent:

“The former senator is yet to declare her next political move, but many believe she might be eyeing the Ogun Central senatorial seat again, and the likely party is ADC. Remember that former President Obasanjo gave tactical support to ADC in 2019.”

Last month,  Ogun ADC Chairman, Otunba Femi Soluade, told our correspondent that the party was open to receiving her.

He said, “We have also heard the possibility of Senator Iyabo Obasanjo joining us, but she has not contacted the party. We are eagerly waiting for her. Once she reaches out, we will hold discussions.”

A former governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, has denied being indicted in any corruption-related matter.

He also affirmed his membership in the People’s Democratic Party.

The ex-governor was recently nominated by President Bola Tinubu for an ambassadorial position and is awaiting Senate confirmation.

Sunday PUNCH had analysed the nominees, spotlighting five surrounded by controversies.

In Ikpeazu’s case, our correspondent referenced a Premium Times report on a 2024 KPMG document.

The 359-page document, titled ‘Final Report: Provision of Process Review Services to Abia State Government,’ was said to have flagged financial irregularities under the former governor’s administration.

It was also reported that the state government submitted a copy of the document to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for possible prosecution of those indicted.

But responding in a statement on Sunday, Ikpeazu said the KPMG report was misrepresented.

In the statement, Ikpeazu’s media adviser, Enyinnaya Appolos,  argued that no audit of Abia State’s accounts was carried out; rather, KPMG conducted only a process review.

He said, “What the current administration commissioned was a process review — not a financial audit, not a forensic investigation, and certainly not an indictment.”

According to him,  the document explicitly stated that the assignment was not conducted in the capacity of a statutory auditor, nor was KPMG required to render any opinion on the state’s financial statements.

The document quoted by Appolos was addressed to the Abia State Governor and was sighted by our correspondent on Sunday.

The document, dated March 2, 2024, read in part, “This assignment was not performed by us in the capacity of a statutory auditor. Hence, this is not any form of financial statement audit of ABSG or any entity listed in the report. We are, therefore, not required to render an opinion on the financial statements of ABSG or any entity listed in the report.

“Rather, we have performed the procedures we considered appropriate in the circumstances and in line with the relevant KPMG methodology.

“We were also not required to review the adequacy or otherwise of the output of the prior or current external auditors and/or consultants of ABSG.”

KPMG added that it “did not conduct a trial or inquiry in the course of the assignment, act as a tribunal, commission of inquiry, or in any judicial or quasi-judicial role; perform any adjudicatory function whatsoever; or conduct any exercise aimed at determining whether any person was guilty or innocent of any offence.”

Appolos stressed that “a process review cannot ‘indict’ anyone. It merely evaluates procedural compliance. It cannot make findings of guilt or wrongdoing.”

He also dismissed claims that Ikpeazu diverted N1.9tn, describing it as impossible.

“Abia State under Ikpeazu did not generate or access up to N1tn in total revenue in eight years. How does someone divert what does not exist?” he added.

He noted that the EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies had previously reviewed and dismissed as politically-motivated allegations of diversion of N10bn meant for the Abia Airport project.

Appolos noted that since leaving office in 2023, Ikpeazu had never been charged, prosecuted, or invited by any court over corruption allegations.

“Dr Ikpeazu served Abia State diligently for eight uninterrupted years and left office without legal or administrative blemish,” he added.

He also dismissed the notion that Ikpeazu had dumped the PDP for the APC.

Appolos said, “His Excellency Okezie Ikpeazu has never defected to the APC. He remains a card-carrying and loyal member of the PDP.

“Only three weeks ago, he attended the PDP stakeholders’ meeting held on 18 November 2025. Any suggestion that he joined the APC is not only false but easily disproved by public records and party officials.”

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