Senate President Godswill Akpabio has hinted that Siminalayi Fubara, the suspended governor of Rivers State, and Douye Diri, the governor of Bayelsa State, may soon join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Akpabio made the remark on Saturday during a reception held at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, to officially welcome Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno to the APC.
The event, which was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, and several governors and senators from the party, marked Eno’s formal defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC on June 6.
Describing the occasion as more than a political defection, Akpabio referred to it as a “reunification of Akwa Ibom with Nigeria.”
He further highlighted that the recent defections of Governors Umo Eno and Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State indicate a growing shift of South-South states toward the APC.
“It was a little bit of a surprise when we (south-south) attempted to go different ways in 2023,” he said.
“Today, Governor Otu is no longer an orphan. Thank you for being here to welcome your brothers, and you will welcome more brothers.
“Governor Sheriff of Delta, thank you for joining the progressives’ family and moving the south-south in the progressives’ direction.
“Governor Uno Eno, after you, who knows? Rivers state will tumble. After Rivers, Bayelsa will join.
“Of course, we have won the election in Edo state. We produced our amiable senator, Monday Okpebholo.”
The senate president added that the south-south states will vote in one direction for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
“Come 2027, south-south will go one way; the south-south will vote for President Bola Tinubu,” he added.
“I see you becoming the first re-elected governor in 2027. I see the president getting 99.9 percent votes in 2027.”
The ruling APC is at the moment controlling four out of the six south-south states– only two, Rivers and Bayelsa, are not controlled by the ruling APC.